Ugadi and the six tastes of a year ఉగాది · షడ్రుచులు

Ugadi (ఉగాది) marks the Telugu new year, in the spring month of Chaitra. The word comes from 'yuga' + 'adi' — the beginning of an age.

Its signature is Ugadi pachadi (ఉగాది పచ్చడి), a dish blending six tastes — షడ్రుచులు. Sweet jaggery (బెల్లం) for happiness, sour tamarind (చింతపండు) for challenge, salt (ఉప్పు) for interest, bitter neem flower (వేప పువ్వు) for sorrow, heat from chilli (మిరప) for anger, and the tang of raw mango (మామిడి) for surprise.

Eating all six together is a quiet philosophy: a new year, like a full life, will bring every flavour — and all of them belong. Families also gather for Panchanga sravanam, the reading of the year's almanac.