Ugadi Special

Yugadi / Ugadi marks the first day of the year as per Hindu Calendar. It is celebrated on two different dates as per the solar and lunar calendars respectively by people from different regions. Both the dates fall a couple of weeks apart from mid of March until mid of April. To mark this day, traditionally, people take oil bath, wear new clothes, worship God with flowers and delicacies. They decorate the house with fresh mango leaves, flowers, and draw beautiful and colourful designs / patterns called Rangoli in front of the house. The younger ones in the house seek blessings from the elders.
Coming from the South Canara belt, we celebrate this festival as per the solar Calendar and the day usually falls around the mid of April (Celebrated as Vishu).

On this day, we begin our day by consuming Bevu and Bella, which in other words, refer to Neem and Jaggery respectively. While the former symbolizes the bitterness in life, the latter signifies the sweetness. This combination just conveys that if one accepts everything in life with a smiling face, the problems will seem easier to handle.
Apart from these several sweet dishes are prepared, mainly using jaggery. Along with sweet dishes, tamarind based dishes too are prepared and if mangoes are available, dishes with mangoes too are prepared to mark the festival.

There are several dishes which are traditionally prepared to mark this occasion. However, towing with my mom’s and my mother-in-law’s foot steps, I have always kept it simple by doling out dishes based out of jaggery (sweet) and tamarind / mango / hogplum (curries), while keeping up with the traditions.

So, all the busy people out there, you still can celebrate Ugadi, the traditional way, with simple, yet tasty and healthy dishes, thereby mark the occasion.

Wishing everyone celebrating this festival, a very Happy Ugadi.

Here is a list of possible recipes that you can go with. Needless to say, the list over the days will keep growing as we come up with new recipes which may fall in this category .

Sweets :

Sauthekai Payasa | Cucumber Pudding

Kadle Unde

Ellu Unde

Jola Halubai

Hayagreeva Maddi

Banana Sago Sweet

Curries :

Hogplum curry

Mango sasmi

Chandurli