Ugadi Telugu New Year marks the beginning of the Chaitra month and the Shubhakrit Nama Samvatsara, observed with joy across Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka (where it is called Yugadi). In 2026, Ugadi falls on Thursday, 19 March, and homes come alive with the sound of the Panchanga Sravanam, the tangy-sweet aroma of Ugadi Pachadi, the brass kalash pooja at sunrise, and the rustle of new clothes. Devotees also visit temples like Srisailam, Tirupati and Srikakulam to seek blessings, and a brass Ganesh-Lakshmi mandapam with a brass pooja kalash is the perfect centrepiece for the festival at home.

The name 'Ugadi' comes from Sanskrit 'Yuga + Adi', meaning 'the beginning of a new age'. The festival is believed to commemorate the day Lord Brahma created the universe, making it a powerful symbol of cosmic renewal. The Shubhakrit Samvatsara is considered a year of growth, new beginnings, prosperity and good harvest. This guide explains the exact Ugadi 2026 date and Pratipada tithi, the meaning of Panchanga Sravanam, the six tastes of Ugadi Pachadi, the Bevu Bella tradition of Karnataka, the Holige-Obbattu feast, and how to set up a brass Ugadi mandapam at home using brass kalash, brass Ganesh and brass Lakshmi idols from Deshna Wholesale. Read more on the Aagam Blog.

Ugadi 2026 Date, Pratipada Tithi and Samvatsara

Ugadi 2026 is celebrated on Thursday, 19 March 2026. The Pratipada Tithi of the Chaitra Shukla Paksha begins at 06:52 AM on 19 March and ends at 04:52 AM on 20 March. Since the tithi prevails at sunrise on 19 March, the festival is observed on that day. The new year is called the Shubhakrit Nama Samvatsara in most traditions, and the Marathi-speaking community celebrates the same day as Gudi Padwa, the Shalivahan Shaka 1948. The Kanya Sankranti moment — when the Sun enters Mesha (Aries) — is also marked. Muhurat for the Abhyanga Snanam (oil bath) is Brahma Muhurta, and the main Ugadi puja with the brass kalash and mango leaf toran is performed at sunrise, ideally between 6.30 and 8.30 am. The Panchanga Sravanam reading usually happens in the morning at temples or at home, followed by the first serving of Ugadi Pachadi.

  • Pratipada Tithi Begins: 19 March 2026 at 06:52 AM IST
  • Pratipada Tithi Ends: 20 March 2026 at 04:52 AM IST
  • Samvatsara: Shubhakrit Nama (2026–27)
  • Brahma Muhurta Abhyanga Snanam: 4.51 AM to 5.39 AM
  • Ugadi Puja Muhurta: Sunrise to 8.30 AM, with Abhijit Muhurat as the most auspicious window

Panchanga Sravanam: The Vedic Forecast of the New Year

The Panchanga Sravanam is the most awaited ritual of Ugadi morning. A learned Vedic scholar or a temple priest reads the five limbs of the new almanac — Tithi, Vara, Nakshatra, Yoga and Karana — and explains the astrological forecast for the year, including predictions of rain, harvest, political climate, financial trends, and auspicious/inauspicious periods. Families gather around a brass kalash with mango leaves, listen attentively, take notes, and plan important events like weddings, house-warmings and travel for the year ahead. In villages and apartments alike, the Panchanga Sravanam is also live-streamed on TVs and phones. The reading is considered so auspicious that even a partial hearing is believed to bless the listener with wisdom for the year. Many families also bring out a brass Ganesh idol and a brass Lakshmi idol for the puja, place the new Panchanga in front of the deities, and offer a Tulsi leaf on the open almanac as a mark of surrender to divine knowledge.

What the Shubhakrit Samvatsara Predicts

The Shubhakrit Nama Samvatsara is described in the Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra as a year of prosperity, good rainfall, healthy crops, spiritual progress, and favourable outcomes for agriculture, education, and new ventures. It is considered a year of optimism, especially for Chaitra-born individuals, and is a great time to start new businesses, buy brass idols, perform Griha Pravesh, and take up Vedic learning. Always confirm with your local Telugu panchangam for region-specific muhurat timings.

Ugadi Pachadi: The Six Tastes of Life

Ugadi Pachadi (also called Bevu Bella in Karnataka) is the symbolic dish of the festival. It is prepared with six ingredients that represent the six emotions of life — sweet (jaggery) for happiness, sour (tamarind) for challenges, salty (salt) for interest, bitter (neem flowers) for sadness, pungent (green chilli) for anger, and tangy (raw mango) for surprise. A small quantity of the Pachadi is first offered to the brass Ganesh or brass Vishnu idol, then to elders, and finally the family eats it together. The act of tasting all six flavours in one spoonful is a teaching — that life is a balanced mix of joy and sorrow, success and failure, and that the new year must be accepted with equanimity. In Karnataka, the version is slightly simpler — fresh neem flowers and jaggery are mixed and eaten as Bevu Bella. In Telangana, the Pachadi is sometimes served as part of a larger thali with Pulihora, Payasam, Perugu Vada and Chutneys.

Bevu Bella, Holige-Obbattu and the Ugadi Feast

The Ugadi feast is a celebration of regional pride. In Karnataka, Bevu Bella (neem-jaggery mixture) is eaten first, followed by Holige or Obbattu — the signature sweet flatbread stuffed with chana dal and jaggery. The Karnataka spread also includes Kosambari (moong dal salad), Puliyogare (tamarind rice), Payasa (sweet rice pudding) and Vangi Bath (brinjal rice). In Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, the feast is heavier — Pulihora (tamarind rice), Daddojanam (curd rice), Payasam, Bobbatlu, Perugu Vada, Avakaya pickle, Chakkera Pongali and the special Ugadi Pachadi. Mango leaf torans are tied at the entrance, rangoli of rice flour and turmeric decorates the threshold, and brass lamps burn through the day. The lunch is served on a banana leaf or steel thali, with pickles placed on the right and sweets on the top-right of the leaf.

Abhyanga Snanam, New Clothes and Charity

The day of Ugadi begins with Abhyanga Snanam — an oil bath with sesame oil infused with shikakai and shikha seeds — taken before sunrise. The bath is believed to purify the body, mind and the house itself, washing away the sins of the past year. After the bath, new clothes (pachha or kodi) are worn, and a small amount of Ugadi Pachadi is offered to the family deity. Charity is an important Ugadi ritual — old clothes, rice, brass lamps and money are given to the poor, the priest, and the family guru. Many devotees also visit the dargahs of Sufi saints and offer prayers, especially in the Hyderabad Old City where Ugadi is celebrated as a syncretic festival of all faiths. Tying mango leaves and a brass bell at the entrance, and lighting a brass deepam at the doorway, completes the festive entrance.

Brass Idols, Kalash and Ugadi Pooja Setup from Deshna Wholesale

A traditional Ugadi pooja at home requires a brass kalash (lota) filled with water, mango leaves and a coconut, a brass Ganesh idol and a brass Lakshmi idol at the centre, a brass thali for the Panchanga and offerings, a brass deepam with sesame oil, and a brass bell for the puja. The brass kalash is considered the seat of Vishnu and is worshipped as Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva combined. Place a clean red or yellow cloth on the pooja altar, arrange the idols, light the brass lamp, and begin the puja with the Ganesh atharvashirsha and the Lakshmi sahasranama. Deshna Wholesale offers a curated Ugadi-ready collection of brass Ganesh, brass Lakshmi, brass kalash sets, brass bells and brass deepam from its workshop in Khatauli. Browse the full range at the Aagam brass catalogue, and for temple bulk orders, corporate Ugadi gifts and export enquiries, place an order via the Aagam team today.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: When is Ugadi 2026 — exact date and day?
A: Ugadi 2026 is on Thursday, 19 March 2026. The Pratipada Tithi of Chaitra Shukla Paksha begins at 06:52 AM on 19 March and ends at 04:52 AM on 20 March. The festival is observed on 19 March at sunrise.

Q: What is Panchanga Sravanam and why is it read on Ugadi?
A: Panchanga Sravanam is the Vedic reading of the five limbs of the new almanac — Tithi, Vara, Nakshatra, Yoga and Karana — along with the forecast of the year. It is read on Ugadi to help families plan auspicious events for the Shubhakrit Samvatsara.

Q: Why does Ugadi Pachadi have six tastes?
A: Ugadi Pachadi combines sweet, sour, salty, bitter, pungent and tangy flavours to teach that life is a balanced mix of joy, sorrow, anger, surprise, challenges and interest. Eating all six together on the new year trains the mind to accept life with equanimity.

Q: Is Ugadi the same as Gudi Padwa?
A: Yes, both fall on the same day (Chaitra Shukla Pratipada). Ugadi is the Telugu and Kannada New Year, while Gudi Padwa is the Marathi New Year. The rituals differ — Gudi hoisting and Puran Poli in Maharashtra versus Panchanga Sravanam and Ugadi Pachadi in the South.

Q: Which brass items are essential for the Ugadi puja at home?
A: A brass kalash with mango leaves and coconut, a brass Ganesh idol, a brass Lakshmi idol, a brass thali, a brass deepam, and a brass bell are the essential brass items for a complete Ugadi puja. A brass tulsi stand and a brass incense holder are also useful.

Conclusion: Ugadi 2026 is the cosmic reset button of the Deccan — a day to taste the six flavours of life, hear the Shubhakrit forecast, light a brass deepam, and welcome the new year with gratitude. May the brass kalash, the brass Ganesh, the brass Lakshmi and the warm Ugadi Pachadi bring you a year of growth, peace and prosperity.

For Ugadi brass pooja sets, brass kalash, brass Ganesh-Lakshmi idols, and bulk temple orders, contact Deshna Wholesale — your trusted brass partner from Khatauli for every Telugu and Kannada New Year.