Ugadi 2026 Date: When is Karnataka New Year? Know Puja Timings, Rituals and Significance

Ugadi 2026, also celebrated as the Karnataka New Year, will be observed on March 19, Thursday. The festival is celebrated as the beginning of the Vishwavasu Samvatsara in the Hindu lunar Chandramana calendar, widely followed in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana. For people in Karnataka, Ugadi festival is about new beginnings and the arrival of the spring season.

The Karnataka New Year Ugadi is celebrated with traditional rituals, special festive foods, and family gatherings. Many people search for Ugadi 2026 Karnataka date, Ugadi puja timings, Ugadi rituals in Karnataka, and Ugadi significance as the festival approaches.

Karnataka New Year 2026 Date and Puja Timings

According to the Hindu calendar, Ugadi is celebrated on Chaitra Shukla Pratipada, the first day of the bright fortnight of the Chaitra month.
As per Drik Panchang, the Pratipada Tithi begins at 06:52 AM on March 19 and ends at 04:52 AM on March 20. Devotees generally perform Ugadi puja in the morning around sunrise, usually between 6:15 AM and 6:30 AM IST depending on the city.

One of the most important rituals on Karnataka Ugadi is Panchanga Sravanam, where priests or elders read the new year predictions from the Hindu almanac, giving hints about the upcoming year's fortunes, rainfall, agriculture, and economic outlook.

Karnataka Ugadi Rituals and Traditions & Significance

The Ugadi festival in Karnataka begins early in the morning with Abhyangana Snanam, a sacred oil bath using sesame or castor oil. People clean and decorate their homes with mango leaves and colorful rangoli patterns at the entrance.

A special dish called Ugadi Pachadi is prepared in many households. This dish represents the six tastes of life and contains jaggery, neem flowers, tamarind, salt, chili, and raw mango.

After the rituals, families perform Ugadi puja, light lamps, and offer prayers to Lord Vishnu or Lord Brahma. Traditional dishes like mango rice, pulihora, holige (puran poli), and other festive foods are prepared and shared with family members.

The significance of Ugadi in Hindu mythology and tradition is very unique as tt is believed that Lord Brahma created the universe on this day so the new year beginson this day according to the Hindu calendar.