Sourmana Yugadi

The solar New Year Day, which is the first day of the month of Mesha (Aries) or Chittirai, is celebrated as Chitravisu. This heralds the arrival of spring.  On this day they also eat Neem leaves with Jaggery signifying that pain and pleasure should be accepted with a sense of equanimity.

Bisu, also known as Tulu New Year, is the first day of Tuluva Calendar followed in Tulunadu regions of Karnataka. The entire stretch of Udupi, Mangalore, Dakshina Kannada and parts of Kasargod follows the the Souramana Panchanga (Solar Calendar) hence this festival is also referred to as Souramana Ugadi. Bisu is the period of transition of seasons where Suggi month ends and the Paggu month begins.

This day is also referred to as Mesha Sankranthi (Mesha Sankramana punyakala) as the Sun transits from Mesha Rashi from Meena Rashi. The celebrations include reading of the Panchanga and the Ugadi message after which Bevu-Bella is shared greeting and wishing each others. In Tulu Nadu, Bisu is the occasion for the farmers to thank the mother Earth. Gathering of harvest and worshipping is called 'Bisu Kani'. This way of worshipping the mother Earth is also observed in temples of Tulu Nadu. Various religious rituals and special pooja will be held in temples on this auspicious occasion of Bisu Parba.

As per Tulunadu tradition, people share the sweets and savour payasam at lunch, in a way praying for peace and happiness for one more year. People visit the temple after which the family priest visits homes and reads the panchanga. Before distributing bevu bella, he forecasts what the year ahead holds. Special savouries made for lunch are tender cashew upkari, mango upkari, payasam, podi (fried snacks seasonal), along with the usual accompaniments.

Souramana Ugadi is celebrated as 'Varusha Pirappu/Puthandu' in Tamil Nadu, 'Vishu' in Kerala, 'Pohela Boishakh' in Bengal, 'Maha Vishuba Sankranthi' in Orissa, 'Bohag Bihu' in Assam and 'Baisakhi' in Punjab.