Ugadi' welcomed with joy in households

April 11, 2013

Mangalore, Apr 11: The festival of Chandramana Ugadi which falls on Thursday heralds the beginning of a new year according to the Hindu lunar calendar. It marks the beginning of spring and the beginning of a new era. Hence this festival is welcomed and celebrated with joy and happiness in households in the southern part of the country.

Although observed with great fervour in the Deccan region of India, in the coastal belt of Karnataka it is mostly the Gowd Saraswat Brahmins who celebrate Ugadi, for people in Tulunadu follow customs and traditions different from the rest. It is a day when family and friends get together and pray for general well-being. Family members clean the house thoroughly and decorate it with mango 'toranas' and 'rangolis'.

In Tulunadu, most people celebrate the Souramana Ugadi, popularly known as Bisu. Falling on April 14 this year, this festival celebrated by Tuluvas marks the beginning of the year according to the solar calendar.

Celebrated by Gowd Saraswat Brahmins and those having settled in Mangalore from the region of Mysore, Ugadi is a time to start the new year afresh with new hopes and expectations. There is a festive mood in the air as families get together and celebrate the festival in a traditional way. Inseparable from the festival are items such as Bevu-bella, Neem leaves and jaggery, which is shared and consumed with great zeal by young and old alike. The day is also marked by the reading of the panchanga (the yearly calendar) and greeting one another.

Derived from the Sankrit words 'Yuga' and 'Aadi' meaning era and beginning, Ugadi literally means the beginning of a new era and is considered an auspicious day for new beginnings and ventures. Legend has it that the creator Brahma began his series of creations on this day. Hence, the day is believed to set things moving towards the better.

Dressed in new clothes, each member of the family is filled with enthusiasm during this day. Seeking the welfare of loved ones, special rituals, poojas and prayers are offered in temples by families to mark this auspicious day.

Household members visit the temple, followed by the recital of the panchanga and forecast for the entire year ahead. Special dishes are prepared and served on this special day such as tender cashew upkari, mango upkari, podi and payasam which are greatly savoured by all during lunch.

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Post-Sabarimala pilgrimage drinking party turns fatal in Udupi; youth killed in midnight brawl

News Network

December 15,2025

Udupi, Dec 15: What was meant to be a post-pilgrimage gathering turned tragic in Padukere village of Brahmavar taluk, Udupi district, late Sunday night, when a clash among youths escalated into a fatal assault, leaving one man dead.

The victim has been identified as 30-year-old Santosh Mogaveera, a resident of Padukere.

According to preliminary information, the incident took place during a late-night drinking party involving a group of local youths who had recently returned after completing their pilgrimage to the Sabarimala shrine. An argument reportedly broke out among the group and soon escalated into a violent confrontation.

During the ensuing brawl, Santosh Mogaveera was allegedly assaulted and collapsed at the spot after sustaining serious injuries. He was rushed by local residents to a private hospital in Brahmavar, where doctors declared him dead.

On receiving information, senior police officials, including Brahmavar Circle Inspector Gopikrishna, Kota Police Sub-Inspector Praveen Kumar T, Station ASI Manthesh Jabagoudar, and head constables Pradeep and Ashok, visited the spot and conducted an inspection.

Police have taken four youths into custody in connection with the incident. A case has been registered at the Kota police station, and further investigation is underway to ascertain the exact sequence of events leading to the death.

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Mangaluru’s ₹1,200 crore fix: Massive sewage overhaul to end city’s drainage woes

News Network

December 19,2025

Mangaluru: In a decisive move to tackle the city’s deteriorating sanitation infrastructure, the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) has announced a massive ₹1,200 crore action plan to overhaul its underground drainage (UGD) network.

The initiative, spearheaded by Deputy Commissioner and MCC Administrator Darshan HV, aims to bridge "missing links" in the current system that have left residents grappling with overflowing sewage and environmental hazards.

The Breaking Point

The announcement follows a high-intensity phone-in session on Thursday, where the DC was flooded with grievances from frustrated citizens. Residents, including Savithri from Yekkur, described a harrowing reality: raw sewage from apartments leaking into stormwater drains, creating a "permanent stink" and turning residential zones into mosquito breeding grounds.

"We are facing immense difficulties due to the stench and the health risks. Local officials have remained silent until now," one resident reported during the session.

The Strategy: A Six-Year Vision

DC Darshan HV confirmed that the proposed plan is not a temporary patch but a comprehensive six-year roadmap designed to accommodate Mangaluru’s projected population growth. Key highlights of the plan include:

• Infrastructure Expansion: Laying additional pipelines to connect older neighborhoods to the main grid.

• STP Crackdown: Stricter enforcement of Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) regulations. While new apartments are required to have functional STPs, many older buildings lack them entirely, and several newer units are reportedly non-functional.

• Budgetary Push: The plan has already been discussed with the district in-charge minister and the Secretary of the Urban Development Department. It is slated for formal presentation in the upcoming state budget.

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