It is 'New Year's day' for people in the states of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh in India. It is Ugadi !! I miss the traditional neem- jaggery mixture ( also called bevu-bella- signifying the bitter-sweet mix of life) that is part of the festival. My childhood memories are filled with images of my Grandpa mixing the stuff, me and my cousins standing in a line and holding our palms out, Grandpa giving us a little of the bevu-bella,the taste of bitter neem and sweet jaggery and, the aroma and taste of the Ugadi lunch spread...hmmmm....... :) The new year has started well for me. I have a job for two months of which one month will be spent in India. I leave on sunday. More on that in my next post.

Happy Ugadi to everyone who is celebrating the festival!
Hope you have a great year!

Picture from Deccan Herald.