Surat – The Telugu New Year, known as Ugadi, will be celebrated with great enthusiasm by the Telugu community in Surat on Sunday, marking the beginning of the traditional calendar year for the people of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. As per agency report, the festival, deeply rooted in cultural rituals and religious beliefs, is observed with a blend of joy, devotion, and community bonding.
Rapolu Buchiramulu, a leading figure in Surat’s Telugu community, shared that irrespective of where they are in the world, Telugu people never miss the opportunity to celebrate Ugadi with grandeur. A signature feature of this festival is the preparation of a unique dish called "Ugadi Pachadi," a healthful and flavorful mixture of neem flowers, tamarind, jaggery, raw mango, coconut, and toddy. This dish symbolizes the various experiences of life and is shared as a token of New Year blessings.
In Surat, where a significant Telugu population resides, the festivities are marked by traditional customs. People wake up early, clean and decorate their homes with flowers, and adorn doorways with mango leaves, believed to bring prosperity and ward off negativity.
The Telugu community in the city gathers at the Markandeshwar Mahadev Temple in Pratapanagar, Limbayat, to offer prayers and participate in devotional activities. The temple becomes a spiritual hub where devotees, immersed in faith, seek blessings for the New Year. Astrologers present during the occasion provide detailed predictions for individuals and their families, based on traditional astrological charts.
Leading members of the Telugu Adarsh Mitra Mandal, including President Gon Somayya and General Secretary Rapolu Buchiramulu, along with Padmashali Samaj President Dasari Srinivas and Secretary Pamu Venu, have extended heartfelt greetings to the community. Also present to offer congratulations were Municipal Councillor Kavita N. Engandula, former Councillor Lakshmi R. Rapolu, Chityala Ramu, Kusuma Srinivas, Narsingh Arkal, Alegati Nageshwar, Venum Sriramulu, Advocate Sagar Veldhi, Gundu Vishwanatham, Dasari Suryanarayan, Satish Balne, Prakash Chidarala, Venu Mara, Srinivas Kodunuri, Srinivas Yelagam, and Jagdish Chelumalla.
The Ugadi celebrations in Surat not only reinforce cultural pride among the Telugu diaspora but also serve as a unifying occasion that strengthens social ties and preserves the heritage of the community.
