Visakhapatnam gears up to celebrate Ugadi

VISAKHAPATNAM: Youngsters across the city are gearing up to celebrate Ugadi on

April 6

with immense festive fervour. Ugadi is celebrated on the first day of the

Hindu calendar

month of Chaitra and marks the beginning of a new year for the people of Andhra Pradesh.


The day is observed by drawing colorful patterns on the floor called ‘kolamulus’ (rangoli), mango leaf decorations on doors called ‘toranalu’, giving and receiving gifts , giving charity to the poor, preparing and sharing a special food called ‘pachadi’ and visiting Hindu temples. The ‘pachadi’ is a festive food that combines all flavours— sweet, sour, salty and bitter. According to Hindu traditions, the food is a symbolic reminder that one must expect all flavours of experiences in the coming new year and make the most of them.

Anjali Dange, a nutritionist based in the city, said, “Ugadi involves food that balances all tastes signifying different human emotions. The six ingredients used in ‘pachadi’ are neem flowers which symbolise bitterness of life,

tamarind

symbolises the challenges we face, pepper powder is for angry or upsetting moments in life, raw mango symbolises surprises in life, salt is for the zest for life and jaggery symbolises the sweeter and happy aspects of life.”

Samarpayami events are organised on the occasion of Ugadi, fun-filled activities, family competitions, ‘swararchana’ performances, form the important aspects of the

festival

. The members of chocolate craft club have designed an Ugadi hamper for their customers. The combo hamper comprises sweet, sour, spicy, bitter and tangy flavoured millet snacks, chocolates and dry fruits.

Speaking to TOI, Anant Lakshmi, a homemaker said, “Special dishes are prepared for the occasion as it is the time when the family gets together. We prepare dishes such as ‘pulihora’, ‘bobbatlu’ and ‘pachadi’. Since it is the mango season, preparations made with raw mango go well with the occasion.”