Ugadi is a major festival celebrated in the southern states of India, especially in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana. It is typically observed in the months of March or April, marking the beginning of a new year according to the Hindu lunisolar calendar.

The word 'Ugadi' is derived from the Sanskrit words 'yuga' meaning 'age' and 'adi' meaning 'beginning'. The festival signifies the start of a new age or era, symbolizing the cycle of life, death, and rebirth.

On the day of Ugadi, people wake up early in the morning and take a head bath, after which they decorate their homes with rangolis and fresh mango leaves. They also wear new clothes and visit temples to seek the blessings of the gods.