Ugadi: New Year, New Resolutions (That Will Probably Last a Week)

Ah, Ugadi—the Telugu New Year, a festival that marks the beginning of a brand-new year, filled with hope, fresh starts, and, most importantly, food that could put us all in a happy coma.

As a wife, a mom of three, and a full-time everything (worker, student, chef, referee, personal assistant, and human pillow for at least one child at all times), celebrating festivals like Ugadi requires careful planning, strategic snack placement, and the patience of a saint. Spoiler alert: I am not a saint.

But Ugadi is special, and no matter how crazy life gets, we always make time to celebrate.

The Chaos Begins: Prepping for Ugadi

Preparations started with me making an ambitious to-do list that looked something like this:

☑ Wake up early and clean the house (LOL)
☑ Make an elaborate feast (double LOL)
☑ Get the kids to wear traditional clothes without a meltdown
☑ Try to stay sane

Naturally, by the time I got out of bed, my toddler had already removed all the neatly folded clothes from the cupboard and was running around the house wearing a dupatta like a superhero cape, shouting, “I FLY, MAMA!” Spoiler: She did not fly. She fell. And then demanded a snack for her troubles.

At this point, my older two were strategically avoiding chores, suddenly becoming very interested in their room (suspicious). Meanwhile, my husband casually walked into the kitchen, took a look at the chaos, and immediately walked back out. Smart man.

Food, Glorious Food

Despite the minor setbacks (and by minor, I mean total toddler destruction), we got to the most important part of Ugadi—the feast.

Now, Ugadi is all about balance, symbolized by the famous Ugadi Pachadi—a dish that has all six tastes: sweet, sour, bitter, salty, spicy, and umami (just kidding, but close enough). It represents life’s different emotions—because, let’s be honest, life isn’t always gulab jamuns and biryani.

We also made Mango Dahl, bobbatlu (sweet stuffed flatbreads), mango chutney, and a mountain of snacks that my toddler attempted to climb like it was Everest. He succeeded.

The Great "Mango Mishap"

While I was in the middle of making mango chutney, I turned around for one second—just one—and in that time, my toddler stole a whole mango and took a single, giant bite out of it like a cartoon character. Then, realizing it wasn’t as sweet as she expected, she threw it at her brother, who dodged it expertly (clearly he has been preparing for this moment his whole life).

The mango thunked against the fridge and slid down in a slow, dramatic fashion, leaving behind a very artistic mango streak.

My husband, who had conveniently walked into the kitchen at that exact moment, just blinked at the mess, nodded, and said, “Yep, Happy Ugadi.” Then he walked out. Again, smart man.

Ugadi Resolutions (That Will Probably Last a Week)

Like any New Year, Ugadi comes with the optimistic tradition of making resolutions. My family went around the table and declared ours:

• Me: “I will wake up early and exercise.” (Lies, but sounds good.)

• Husband: “I will try to eat healthier.” (He said this while eating his fourth bobbatlu, so I have doubts.)

• Teenager: “I will not argue with my siblings.” (Biggest lie of the evening.)

• 7-year-old: “I will do my homework without being asked.” (LOL, okay.)

• Toddler: “I FLY!” (Sure, sweetheart.)

Resolutions aside, the real beauty of Ugadi is that it reminds us to embrace new beginnings, enjoy time with our loved ones, and laugh at the chaos instead of stressing about it.

And hey, even if my resolutions don’t last, at least the leftover sweets will.

Final Thoughts

Ugadi isn’t just about the food, the traditions, or even the resolutions (that will be broken in record time). It’s about family, love, and finding joy in the little moments—even if those moments involve flying toddlers and mango-covered refrigerators.

So, here’s to a new year filled with laughter, love, and just the right amount of chaos.

Happy Ugadi from my wonderfully messy, snack-loving family to yours!