Managalore : The lunar (Chandramana) ugadi (New Year Day) is celebrated in local temples and homes today by those who go to moon’s astral travels. The Samvatsara (new year) is Known as Khara. Bevu-bella (bitter neam leaves and jiggery pieces mixed) with Holige (a sweet cake made of coconut shavings) and Obbattu (a fried sweet like fat dosa) are served to guests and members of the household this day. The solar New Year comes two weeks later. There is some calculational difference in Chandramana and Souramana (solar). Today is also the beginning of CHaitra (or Vasantha)masa or spring season. It leads to bright moon light in 2 weeks. (Shukla Paksha). It is the ritu (season) of tender shoots, flowers, soft winds and colourful fruits such as cashews and mangoes. Everywhere you see bloosms and light green nature when parks dress up and the wild forest dances with animals, birds and their songs.
Lord Brahma started his creation on Ugadi (beginning of an Age). People go to temples with presents to worship gods.
People wear new clothes and listen to the Panchanga readings.
The fate of one full year is read out by Hindu priests for every Rashi (group of stars in 12 beginning with Mesha and ending with Meena). The Panchanga-Sravana’ is regarded as must by every pious Hindu family and it depicts ‘Phala or possible results for every group in 12.(27 stars in all)
In Mangalore, today is known as Ugadi, Gudi Padva and Chaitra prarambham (Samsara Padvo). Taste Mango (row)  Pachdi, and put up Mango leaf buntings on your doors. Have sugarcane pieces and jiggery to eat. Go round your neighbourhood distributing sweets and wishing them “Shubha Ugadi Day”. Keep your courtyard  free of mosquitoes and fresh-looking with splashes of cow-dung water in the early morning, and bring Jasmine fragrance into your Pooja room lit up with wicks and Agarbatties or Sreegandha taps.
Listen to Panchanga readings in the evening carefully and make some New Year resolutions now.