While many households continue to celebrate Ugadi, the younger generation is too caught up with their busy lifestyles, turning this festival into a holiday to relax.
Swathi Vasireddy
No time for celebrations
As a kid, we used to celebrate festivals with new clothes, sweets and a variety of food items. Also, meeting friends and family used to be fun. But now, I do not celebrate Ugadi. Whereas earlier, we would be excited about all the festivals, eventually, they became holidays to catch up on things for which we generally don’t find time.
— Swathi Vasireddy, Race Director of the Hyderabad Triathlon
Jahnavi Rao
We keep it simple
I remember having a lot of fun on Ugadi. But to manage work and celebrate the festival with the same spirit is a bit difficult. However, I make sure I am at home with my family. My mother makes great food and of course, the Ugadi pacchadi.
— Jahnavi Rao, IT professional
Karthik Kondapavuluri
A day to spend time with family
Both my parents were working while I was growing up, so festivals are not really a big deal for me, other than having a day to ourselves. Fortunately this time, Ugadi is on a Saturday and that would give me time to spend with my family. More than the festivities, I am looking forward to that. Most people nowadays don’t have the time or patience to indulge in the festivities that they used to enjoy earlier. To add to that, most MNC’s don’t give an off on Ugadi.
— Karthik Kondapavuluri, an MNC employee
As told to Namrata Srivastava
