For Saanve Megghana, Ugadi is both a cultural marker and a personal checkpoint. Born and brought up in Hyderabad, the actor associates the festival with family traditions, food, and reflection. This year, the occasion carries added significance as it coincides with her parents’ anniversary. In a conversation with Hyderabad Times, she reflects on how the festival has evolved for her over the years.‘Ugadi has always been tied to my grandmother’s birthday’My favourite childhood memories of Ugadi are closely tied to my grandmother’s birthday, which falls on the same day. I was very close to my nanamma, and with her birthday and Ugadi coinciding, it would turn into a celebration at home. Those moments shaped how I came to see the festival. She is no longer with us, but I continue to associate Ugadi with her, which makes it emotional even today.

‘Festivals meant simple rituals, food, and time with family’As I grew up, the essence of Ugadi stayed rooted in those early memories, even as the celebrations took on a more routine form. We didn’t follow one fixed tradition, but the day began with cleaning the house and the pooja room. I remember going shopping with my mother for festive clothes, and sometimes even clothes for the idols. We would decorate the doorway with thoranaalu made from mango and neem leaves. The day was about wearing traditional outfits and spending time together as a family.Food was an important part of the celebrations. Ugadi at home meant dishes like Ugadi pachadi, raw mango pulihora, and bakshalu. I especially looked forward to the pulihora and the bakshalu made with jaggery and pappu.‘Ugadi reminds me to accept every experience and start again’Over time, the meaning of the festival has also changed for me. Ugadi pachadi, made with ingredients like neem, tamarind, jaggery, and raw mango, represents different emotions in life. It’s a reminder to accept every experience, whether good or difficult. The festival also marks a new beginning. I see it as a reset — a time to reflect and move forward. It reminds me that it’s never too late to start again.

‘This year, it’s about returning home and taking a pause’Right now, life has been busy with multiple projects across Tamil and Telugu films, so it has felt like a continuous phase of work. At the same time, I’ve been focusing more on personal growth and reflection, which has made festivals feel more meaningful. Ugadi becomes a reminder to pause and reconnect. This year is special because Ugadi falls on my parents’ anniversary, so it’s a double celebration. After spending time away for work, I’m looking forward to being home, wearing traditional clothes, and spending time with family. I’m entering the new year with hope and a conscious effort to be more mindful.