Deep down, we know Ugadi is really all about the food! We give you the low down on Ugadi trivia and the best Ugadi oota options in the city.
Green fields, soaring temperatures, the call of the month of Chaitra and a season of festivities that makes most of South India, jump up in joy and celebrate. Ugadi might be called by different names, but is celebrated with the same fervour across most of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.
Call it Yugadi or Ugadi, Samvatsradi or even Gudi Padwa — the name is formed by combination of the words of ‘yuga’ meaning age and ‘aadi’ meaning beginning. The festival is symbolised by the celebration of the New Year, with indulgent food spreads, yummy sweetmeats and loads and loads of family time.
Food has always been an essential part of this celebration and tradition has always ensured that life’s ups and downs are represented in the main meal of the day.
People from Andhra Pradesh prepare the Ugadi pachchadi that is a special mixture consisting of neem buds or flowers for its bitterness, signifying sadness; jaggery and ripe banana pieces for sweetness, signifying happiness; green chilli or pepper for its hot taste, signifying anger; salt for saltiness, signifying fear; tamarind juice for its sourness, signifying disgust and raw mango for its tang, signifying surprise. Tradition says the most resilient flavour in the combination will be the definitive mood of the year to come.
In Karnataka, families prepare the bevu-bella — a mixture of jaggery and neem leaves, combined with several other ingredients as a dry preparation, to remind one of the bitter-sweet experience that we all call life.
Keeping this love for food in mind, we list out some of the best options for an authentic Kannada or Telugu Ugadi experience. If you do not have family in town or want to give your kitchen a break, head to these food destinations for a lavish spread worthy of the festival.
True blue Ugadi
Try out this special buffet lunch to celebrate Ugadi with a special menu that is the painstaking creation of Chef Venkatesh Bhat.
Be at South Indies, 840/A, 100 Feet Road, Indiranagar, tomorrow, for Rs349 onwards, call 41636363. Also at South Indies, 147, 4th Floor Chevron Hotel, Opposite Police Commissioner’s Office, Infantry Road, call 41636362
Bittersweet celebrations
Head to Bevu Bella, a special Ugadi lunch buffet that promises a spectacular spread of regional recipes. Be at Fusion Express, MGM Mark Whitefield, 23, Epip Zone, Whitefield, today, call 41985555
You-gaadi
Bring in the Kannada and Andhra New Year with the perfect beginning at Dakshin, ITC Windsor. An authentic feast to celebrate the onset of summer!
Be at Spice Trek, Dakshin, ITC Windsor, Windsor Square, 25, Golf Course Road, on till March 25, call 22269898
Wholesome-ly Andhra
With great attention to detail, Chef Kailash Gundupalli has created an exquisite menu, keeping in mind the cultural regions that divide Andhra.
Be at Spice It, IBIS Bengaluru Techpark, Opposite Intel Campus, Sarjapur Outer Ring Road, 7.30pm to 11pm, on till March 25, priced at Rs499, call 66700600
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