Nellore: Gaiety and devotional fervour marked the Ugadi festival at Nellore and Prakasam on Saturday. Temples in the two cities wore a colourful look where rituals were performed on the occasion of Telugu New Year's Day.
Hundreds of devotees, especially women, thronged the shrines right from the early hours of the day. Their number increased in the evening session. The temples were tastefully decorated for the occasion.
The New Year Almanac was recited by pundits (Panchanga Sravanam) in different parts of Nellore and Ongole. Kavi Sammelan was also organised in a few places including a programme conducted by the district administration at Nellore.
On the home front, women prepared traditional 'Ugadi pachchadi,' a mixture of need buds, raw mango, tamarind juice, pepper, jaggery and salt. The pachchadi is an essential part of the celebratory dishes for Ugadi and symbolising various hues of life.
