Ugadi, meaning “the beginning of a new age”, is celebrated as the New Year in the Deccan region, comprising the states of Maharashtra, Goa, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. Discover here the latest Ugadi celebration and decoration ideas for 2025.
Ugadi festival is celebrated in the southern parts of India, especially in states like Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka. This is the start of the New Year, according to the Hindu calendar, and is observed by wearing new clothes, decorating the house, cooking special food, and praying to the gods. Ugadi festival is one of the most important celebrations for many families, and they spend a lot of effort decorating their space.
The same day is also observed as a New Year in other parts of the country. For instance, it is called Gudi Padwa in Maharashtra. Also, did you know that in some communities, families have a friendly competition when it comes to decorating the house, and each family goes one step further in keeping their decorations unique and on-trend? This blog will take you through 10 amazing Ugadi decoration ideas that are new and inspiring. We have made sure that these don’t require you to spend enormously. All you need to do is use your efforts and creativity.
Ugadi 2025 Date
In 2025, Ugadi will be celebrated on Sunday, March 30.
Ugadi, also called Yugadi, is celebrated on the first day of the month of Chaitra as per the Hindu calendar. It is the day of the first New Moon after the March Equinox. As per the Tamilian calendar, it falls either in the month of Panguni or Chithrai.
History of Ugadi Festival
Ugadi is a significant historic festival for the Hindus. On this day, several donations are made to the temples by the rich and middle class, according to historical records. It is stated in Hindu mythology Lord Brahma began the creation of the Universe on this day. The initial thing he did was introduce years, months, weeks and weeks for time tracking. This is why the Ugadi festival is also considered the beginning of a new age. It is mentioned in mythology that Yugadikrit – one of the avatars of Lord Vishnu, was the creator of Yugas (ages). Therefore, South people worship Lord Vishnu and pray for happiness and prosperity.
This day is also known for Lord Krishna leaving the world. Maharishi Vedavyasa described the beginning of a new age as Yesmin Krishno Divamvyataha, Tasmat Eeva Pratipannam Kaliyugam.
10+ Inspiring Ugadi Celebration and Decoration Ideas
Here are 10+ inspiring Ugadi decoration and festival ideas you can try out for 2025.
1. Start the Ugadi Festival by Cleaning and Decluttering
Many families start their Ugadi festival weeks early by cleaning and decluttering the house. You can do a deep cleaning yourself or hire someone for deep cleaning services. Since this is the start of the New Year, get rid of your excess clutter. Bring down boxes from the attic and throw them away or donate things you don’t need. If you think your house needs a fresh coat of paint, get that done too.
2. Pick or Buy Fresh Flowers for Ugadi Festival
Fresh flowers are an integral part of Ugadi decoration ideas. If you have your own garden, you can pick flowers fresh in the morning and use them for decoration. If not, you can always visit the local market early in the morning on Ugadi day and find flowers in so many colours and scents. Use them to decorate your deities, the pooja room, and the whole house.
3. Ugadi Festival Decoration with Mango Leaves
One of the more traditional and customary Ugadi decoration ideas is to create an entrance view with mango leaves. Mango trees start flowering during Ugadi, and the plant is hence considered very auspicious and fertile. By hanging mango leaves toran at the entrance, you will invite fertility and positivity. You can use a needle and a thick thread to create a garland using individual mango leaves and hang them in hallways too.
4. Traditional Ugadi Festival Cleaning with Cow Dung
If you want to celebrate Ugadi traditionally, doing all that your ancestors did, then try sourcing cow dung from cow sheds nearby. Traditionally, Ugadi festival starts by using a mix of cow dung and water to clean the front of the house. Cow dung has natural antiseptic properties, and it is believed that it can kill germs and keep the house safe. Give this a try this year.
5. Ugadi Decoration Ideas with Colourful Rangoli
Ugadi decoration ideas are not complete without making colourful rangolis at the entrance. Men and women come together the night before Ugadi and participate in making rangolis in front of their houses. This is a great way to add beauty to the house and get the entire family together. You can make the rangoli after washing the floor with cow dung paste.
6. Make Ugadi Festival Special by Floating Flowers in Brass Bowl
If you have a large brass bowl lying around, put it to good use by filling it with water and floating fresh and colourful flowers in it. Place it in your hallway or in the corner of the living room to create a pretty picture and fragrant vibe. You can also create rangolis with flowers in different colours for a unique look. Make sure to pick scented flowers, and they will make your whole house smell amazing too.
7. Clean Your Pooja Room and Decorate the Deities for Ugadi Festival
Since Ugadi is a celebration of the New Year, there is no one god that is worshipped. All deities in your pooja room can be decorated and worshipped on this day. Make your Ugadi festival pious and peaceful by cleaning the pooja room in advance and adorning the deities with fresh flowers. Light diyas and incense sticks in the room. After taking a bath in the morning, you and your family can gather around the room and perform aarti.
8. Put on Your Best Clothes for Ugadi Festival
Alt – A family all dressed up as a part of the Ugadi festival. You and your family are the most important part of the Ugadi festival, and that is why you should dress up and celebrate the day happily. If you are a family that believes in buying new clothes, you can do so and wear them in the morning after a bath. If not, pick up the best clothes from your wardrobe and wear them for the occasion.
9. Prepare the Flavoured Pachadi for Ugadi Festival
One of the most iconic dishes made and offered to the gods at the Ugadi festival is the six-flavoured pachadi. The pachadi is a mix of sweet, sour, spicy, salty, astringent, and bitter flavours and is symbolic of the fact that life is going to be a mix of all emotions. This pachadi is offered to the gods and then included as a part of the meal in every family that celebrates Ugadi.
10. Light Up Your House for Ugadi Decoration
While it is not a traditional practice to light diyas on the evening of the festival, you can start this practice as it is one of the awesome Ugadi decoration ideas. Usually, the evenings of Ugadi are dedicated to visiting friends and family. You can make these visits more entertaining by lighting up the house as a part of the decoration. Your guests will certainly be awed, and your house will be the talk of the town for many days afterwards.
11. Induce a Rich Cultural Feel with Traditional Artwork
Traditional artwork on wall paintings adds a dramatic feel to festive decorations. Consider decorating your home with Kalamkari paintings, Warli paintings, and Madhubani paintings to add a magnificent aesthetic to the festival. This peacock Kalamkari painting fills the atmosphere with peace and harmony while injecting a religious flavour into the interior.
What are the Other Foods Prepared During Ugadi Festival?
Apart from the Ugadi pachadi, given below are the other common foods prepared during the Ugadi festival.
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Kheer (payasam)
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Vada
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Papads
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Raw mango spicy rice
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Tamarind rice
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Puran Polis (bread filled with a mix of coconut and jaggery)
Why is Ugadi Decoration Important?
There are many reasons why you should spend time implementing Ugadi decoration ideas during the festival. Some of them are:
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Since this is the beginning of the New Year, it is advised that you start the year with a clean and decorated house. This may decide how the rest of the year will be for you.
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Festival decorations are a great way to include all the family members in the celebration and get-together.
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On Ugadi, people worship their favourite gods and invoke their blessings. This is said to be an auspicious way to start the New Year. This is why decorating deities and the house is a wonderful way to go about it.
Conclusion to Ugadi Celebration & Decoration Ideas
Ugadi festival is undoubtedly one of the most important celebrations for Indians living all over the world. Ugadi is celebrated in different ways throughout the country, but the idea behind these is the same. It involves welcoming the New Year based on the Hindu calendar and starting the year by praying to god, cooking great food, and celebrating as a family. Make sure you celebrate this festival by implementing some or all of the above Ugadi decoration ideas and have fun.
