Brahma & Vishnu

Before sunrise, apply warm sesame oil all over the body and head. Massage thoroughly for at least 15 minutes. Then take a warm water bath. This is a cherished Ugadi tradition — the oil bath purifies the body, improves circulation, and prepares you for the new year with renewed vigour. Apply kumkum on the forehead after the bath. Wear new clothes.

Tie fresh mango leaf torana (festoon) at the main entrance of the house. This is an essential Ugadi tradition symbolizing prosperity and new beginnings. Draw colourful rangoli (muggu/kolam) designs at the doorstep using rice flour and coloured powders. Clean the puja room and set up the altar with a fresh white cloth. Place the Panchanga (new year almanac) on the altar.

Prepare the Ugadi Pachadi — a special dish containing six tastes (Shadrasa) that symbolize the six emotions of life. Mix neem flowers/leaves (bitter — sadness), jaggery (sweet — happiness), raw mango (sour — surprise), tamarind juice (tangy — disgust), green chilli/pepper (pungent — anger), and salt (salty — fear). Each family member eats a spoonful. This teaches that the new year will bring all experiences and one must accept them with equanimity. In Karnataka, this is called Bevu-Bella; in Andhra/Telangana, Ugadi Pachadi.

Light the ghee lamp and incense at the altar. Place images of Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu. Offer flowers, akshat, kumkum, and fruits. Ugadi celebrates the day Brahma began creation — invoke His creative energy. Also worship Vishnu as the sustainer who carries the creation forward. Perform the sankalpa stating the new Samvatsara name, the date, and your prayer for the year. Chant the Vishnu Sahasranama or at least the Vishnu Gayatri.

This is the most distinctive ritual of Ugadi. A priest or the eldest family member reads aloud the new year's Panchanga (almanac), announcing the new Samvatsara's name, the tithi, nakshatra, yoga, and karana for the day, and the year's predictions for rain, harvest, political affairs, and prosperity. The whole family listens attentively. In temples, this is done as a grand ceremony with hundreds attending. The reading foretells what the new year holds based on the ruling planets and nakshatras.

Offer the prepared Ugadi special dishes as naivedya: Pulihora (tamarind rice), Bobbatlu/Obbattu (sweet stuffed flatbread), Ugadi Pachadi, and coconut rice. Light camphor and perform aarti. Ring the bell while circling the flame before the deities. All family members take part in the aarti. After aarti, distribute the prasad to everyone.

The grand Ugadi feast is served on banana leaves. The traditional meal includes Pulihora, Bobbatlu/Holige, Ugadi Pachadi, Payasam, rice with sambar and rasam, curd rice, and various chutneys and pickles. The meal must include all six tastes. Visit elders to seek their blessings. Exchange new year greetings — "Ugadi Subhakankshalu" (Telugu) or "Yugadi Habbada Shubhashayagalu" (Kannada). In the evening, cultural programmes and Harikatha recitals are held at temples.