A celebration of hope and prosperity

This is a tradition that has been coming from ages. And, younger generation, with a bit of knowledge on Telugu culture, may know the importance of the festival. It marks that time of the year when after the trees have shed their leaves, they begin to bloom again.

The most important ritual of the festival the Ugadi Pachadi with its ‘Shadruchulu’ - the six flavours signify life with its various experiences happy, sad, success, failure…In addition, the preparation uses, neem which is extremely good for health.

Be it the breeze from neem tree, neem leaves, or flowers they tend to have medicinal benefits. And who, will eat the preparation if you say it’s good for health. So, our forefathers devised a way to ensure everyone has pachadi as a ritual.

During my childhood we had quite a few neem trees in our premises, but after coming to the city we are reduced to searching for it, and are even buying the neem florets.

I, for one enjoy eating Ugadi pachadi. While everyone has just a small bit, I have a bowl full of it. I also store excess neem flowers after drying them and occasionally eat with rice, after frying it in ghee. It is very good for health. – Jamuna, veteran actress

This generation has changed a lot, and it is not only Ugadi celebration, other festival celebrations have changed too. The dressing style, for example - We used to wear “Langa Odhni”; today youngsters are wearing clothes that they are comfortable in.

Today, most women are working, and so they have no time to prepare traditional food and they are more into buying. Only the “pachadi” has not changed. We used to meet and greet people. Today, it’s all about WhatsApp and Facebook to convey Ugadi wishes. - Sobha Naidu, Kuchipudi Guru

Ugadi is the festival that’s very special day for our family. The first thing I remember is Ugadi pachadi, and it’ll be a day where the entire family will have lunch served on a banana leaf. During my childhood, I used to wait for my mom to prepare pachadi, which is the best part of the celebration of the Telugu New Year.

I guess the occasion is significant in terms of taking forward the life, which has its share of everything and we welcome the Telugu New Year with new hopes and dreams. I haven’t really missed my Ugadi celebrations because I make it a point to meet my family and have a get together. Of course, there were occasions when I was shooting on the festival, but I compensated it the next day. – Anjali, actress

I have been born and brought up in the city... so sadly no village memories for me. Ugadi, firstly being a holiday was always welcomed as a kid. I was excited about new clothes, Ugadi pachadi, mamidikaya pulihora, garelu, payasam at my grandmother’s house.

I loved seeing the mango leaf “thoranam” decorating the house. I guess nowadays...we probably don't make as many dishes and tend to buy from stores. There are very few homemade dishes and sweets. Also I don't really buy new clothes on Ugadi because I feel we buy clothes all year long anyway. – Nandini Reddy, Film director

When we moved to Delhi, we continued following our tradition. When you are in other city you try to follow our rituals more and stick to our tradition. As far as we are concerned only the decoration style has changed. We are trying to stick to our roots. Even today, I called my mother and asked if I missed anything in Ugadi preparations. - Radha Reddy, Kuchipudi Guru

We used to celebrate Ugadi together with family. Today, the focus is not on festival traditions or rituals. Younger generation feels that all these are too fussy. But, we were particular about that. In olden days, people used to reach out to wish but today many rituals have taken back seat. I miss all small-small things today. - Alekhya Punjala, Kuchipudi Guru