Yugadi or Ugadi is the first day of the Hindu calendar (first day of the first month, the Chaitra).

In Karnataka and also in some parts of the country, the tender leaves of neem mixed with jaggery are distributed on the occasion. The neem, extremely bitter in taste, and jaggery sweet and delicious, signify the two conflicting aspects of human life - joy and sorrow, called as ‘Bevu-Bella’ (a mixture of neem and jaggery in equal measure). This denotes the acceptance by man of all the sweet (jaggery) and bitter (neem) things that are in store for him in the coming year, with gratitude.

People look forward on this occasion is the Obattu, a sweet prepared mostly in Karnataka which comes in various varieties like Kai Obbattu, Bele Obbattu, Sakkare Obbattu etc.

Another important festival for the Kannadigas.

Every Kannadiga would love this song from Da Ra Bendre
(ambikatanayadatta) on Yugadi. We bring you the song in Kannada.


yuga yugAdi kaLedarU yugAdi maraLi barutide
hosa varushake hosa harushava hosatu hosatu tarutide

honge hUva tongalalli bhrungada sangIta kEli matte kELabarutide
bEvina kahi bALinalli hUvina nasugampu sUsi jIvakaLeya tarutide

varushakondu hosatu janma harushakondu hosatu neleyu akhila jIvajAtake
onde ondu janmadali onde bAlya onde haraya namagadashTE EtakO

niddegomme nitya maraNa edda sala navIna janana namage Eke bAradO
elE sanatkumAradEva elE sAhasi chiranjIva ninage lIle sEradO

yuga yugAdi kaLedarU yugAdi maraLi barutide
hosa varushake hosa harushava hosatu hosatu tarutide nammanashTe maretide