Grand welcome awaits brand new year

Ugadi, one of the most popular festivals of Karnataka, is here. Religious programmes and cultural activities have been planned across the city to welcome the Hindu New Year. Panchanga Shravana, a reading of the almanac at homes and temples, is a key component of the festivities. The Ramaseva Mandali, Srirampuram, has also planned Panchanga Shravana, as part of the annual 88th Ugadi-Ramanavami celebrations.

“There will be performances by renowned artistes like Mysore Ramachandrachar and Prashanth Iyengar. We are expecting a big audience this year,” said Krishnamurthy B, one of the organisers. Panchanga Shravana was held at Kashi Mutt in Malleswaram on Tuesday morning itself. Special prayers were offered to the deity of Parthasarathy.

For theatre lovers, Ranga Samaja Cultural Society is staging interesting plays such as Sangya-Balya and Hittina Hunja as part of its three-day Ugadi cultural extravaganza, starting Wednesday. On Tuesday, people thronged the markets to buy fresh mango leaves and other essential commodities. G M Diwakar, president of KR Market Traders’ Association, said mango leaves were being sold at Rs 10 per bunch.

Foodies are looking forward to gorge on Ugadi delicacies such as Mavinakayi Chitranna (mango rice), beans palya (beans stir fry) ‘shavige payasa’ and ‘kosambari’ (salad of pulses). Restaurants are offering Ugadi-themed meals. 

Sumathi A, a resident of Rajajinagar, said she and her family members eagerly look forward to this festival. “We begin our day with prayers either at home or a temple. For lunch, we prepare ‘holige’ ‘mango rice,’ ‘rasam’ and ‘payasa’. We decorate our house with mango leaves and distribute sweets to neighbours in the evening,” she said.