Special prayers and ‘Panchanga Sravanam’ mark Ugadi celebrations in Visakhapatnam

People organise get-togethers to celebrate the festival

Special prayers in temples and ‘Panchanga Sravanam’ marked the Ugadi celebrations in Visakhapatnam on Saturday.

Since early morning, almost all the temples were seen teeming with people standing in long queue lines to offer prayers on the first day of Telugu New Year. Social media was flooded with messages as people exchanged greetings on the occasion of Ugadi.

It was a low-key celebration for the past two years due to COVID-19. With cases coming down and no restrictions, the festival was celebrated with fun and gaiety this year. Decorating their houses and dressed up in traditional attire, people organised get-togethers to celebrate the festival by preparing special delicacies. ‘Ugadi Pachhadi’, a special delicacy was prepared on the festival, to mark the festival. Being weekend, most of the tourist places, especially Beach Road, was thronged by scores of people in the evening.

Officials from the district administration organised Ugadi celebrations at the VMRDA Children’s Arena. Tourism Minister M. Srinivasa Rao, Collector A Mallikarjuna and Mayor G. Hari Venkata Kumari attended the programme. Vedic pundits have read out the almanac during the programme. Wishing people to have a happy and prosperous New Year, the officials said that despite COVID-19 pandemic situation, Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has implemented all the assurances given to the public.

On the occasion, ‘Kavi Sammelanam’ and Kuchipudi performances by artistes were organised. BJP MLC P.V.N. Madhav, Gajuwaka MLA T. Nagireddy and others were present.

Ugadi was also celebrated with traditional fervour at the BJP office here. Mr. Madhav said that from April 7 to 9, the BJP members led by State president Somu Veerraju will tour north Andhra districts to interact with people on water issues.

Similarly, members of YSRCP, Telugu Desam Party (TDP), Jana Sena Party (JSP) organised Ugadi celebrations at their offices and distributed ‘Ugadi pachhadi’