The Ugadi festival marks the beginning of a new Samvatsara (year) and is one among the most significant festivals in southern India. The name " Ugadi " comes from Sanskrit-"yuga" meaning era and "Adi" meaning beginning-together indicating the start of a new age.
It falls on the first day of the Chaitra month in the Hindu lunisolar calendar, coinciding with the arrival of spring.
When is Ugadi 2026?
This year, Ugadi will be celebrated on March 19. According to the Hindu calendar, the PadyaTithi begins at 6:52 am on Thursday day and ends at 4:52 am on Friday (March 20).
How is it celebrated?
The auspicious day typically starts with an oil bath ritual before sunrise, followed by prayers. A key ritual is Panchanga Sravanam, where priests or elders share predictions for the year ahead, covering aspects like rainfall, agriculture, and overall prosperity.
A central part of the festival is the preparation of Ugadi Pachadi, a dish that blends six tastes-sweet, sour, salty, bitter, astringent, and spicy. It symbolises the varied experiences of life and the need to accept them with balance.
Ugadi festivities continue in Bengaluru despite LPG crisisThe houses are decorated with mango leaves that are tied as toranas on doors as the leaves are believed to be sacred and to bring good fortune and positive energy into a home. The festival is also celebrated with rangoli designs.
Significance
The festival marks renewal, prosperity and the start of a fresh annual cycle.
Beyond rituals, Ugadi carries a deeper meaning. It encourages reflection on the past while welcoming the future with hope.
Ugadi coincides with Gudi Padwa in Maharashtra, another New Year celebration, though customs differ across regions.
The day also marks the beginning of Chaitra Navratri in northern India, adding to its broader spiritual significance.