Significance
Ugadi is the New Year for the people of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka, marking the beginning of a new lunar year (samvatsara). The name derives from yuga (age) and adi (beginning).
It is a day of new resolutions, and the year's fortunes are traditionally read out from the new panchang (Panchanga Sravanam).
Rituals
Homes are cleaned and decorated with mango-leaf toranas and rangoli. The signature dish is Ugadi Pachadi — a mix of six tastes (sweet, sour, salt, bitter, tangy, spicy) symbolising that life blends all experiences. New clothes are worn and temples visited.
How the date is fixed
Ugadi falls on the first tithi (Pratipada) of the Chaitra Shukla paksha — the first day of the lunar year. The same day is Gudi Padwa in Maharashtra.