Ugadi is the New Year festival celebrated by the people of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and other states of India and there are various regional names of Ugadi festival. The Ugadi festival in Karnataka involves the cleaning and washing of houses. The Telugusand Kannadas decorate their houses with mango leaves and flowers and practice the ritual of placing kalasha with coconut leaves at the entrance of their house. Cow dung is smeared in front of their homes for purification, harmony and peace. The Kannadas visit temples, take up new ventures and prepares delicacies on this auspicious day. Some of the delicacies prepared are Ugadi Pachchadi, Pulihora, Payasam, Pongal etc. In many places of Karnataka, bhakti songs and kavisammelan are organized.

Regional Names of Ugadi

This festival is celebrated in different states of India and Ugadi has different names. The different names of Ugadi festival are Barhaspatyamana for the people living north of the Vindhya hills. It is observed as Chandramana or Sauramana for those living south of the Vindhya hills. Other names of Ugadiare Gudipadava as called by the Marathas, and the Sindhis observe it as Cheti Chand. In Manipur, this festival is known by the name of SajiburCheiraoba.

The sixty Telugu Ugadi names are Prabhava, Vibhava, Sukla, Pramodyuta, Prajothpatti, Angīrasa, Srīmukha, Bhāva, Yuva, Dhāta, Īswara, Bahudhānya, Pramādhi, Vikrama, Chitrabhānu, Vrisha,Svabhānu, Tārana, Pārthiva, Vyaya, Sarvajit, Sarvadhāri, Virodhi, Vikruti, Khara, Nandana, Vijaya, Jaya Manmadha, Durmukhi, Hevalambi, Vilambi, Vikāri, Sārvari, Plava, Subhakrit, Sobhakrit, Krodhi, Viswāvasu, Parābhava, Plavanga, Kīlaka, Soumya, Sādhārana, Virodhikrit, Paridhāvi, Pramādi, Ānanda, Rakshasa, NaLa, Pingala, Kālayukti, Siddhārtha, Roudri, Durmathi, Dundubhi, Rudhirodgāri, Raktākshi, Krodhana, Akshaya.

This festival is rich in colour, flora that marks the advent of spring and the commencement of the New Year and there are various regional names of Ugadi festival.