Ugadi is the new year's day for the people of the Deccan region of India. It falls on a different day every year because the Hindu calender is a lunisolar calendar.
The people here celebrate the festival with great fanfare; gatherings of the extended family and a huge feast. The day begins with ritual showers (oil bath) followed by prayers, and then the eating of a specific mixture of -
Neem Buds/Flowers for bitterness
Raw Mango for tang
Tamarind Juice for sourness
Green Chilli/Pepper for heat
Jaggery and ripe banana pieces for sweetness
Pinch of Salt for saltiness
This mixture with all six tastes, called "Ugadi Pachhadi" , symbolizes the fact that life is a mixture of different experiences (sadness, happiness, anger, fear, disgust, surprise) , which should be accepted together and with equanimity.
Like all festival days here in India, everything shuts down for the observance. Schools, businesses, public transportation... simply stop for the day. It's actually quite nice that the special days here in India are just all about spending time with family...
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