Kannada Festivals: Ugadi, Dasara and Rajyotsava
The main festivals of Karnataka, from Ugadi and Mysuru Dasara to Kannada Rajyotsava, with the Kannada words and greetings for each.
Festivals are a great time to hear and use Kannada. This guide covers the main ones and the words that go with them.
Major festivals
| Festival | Kannada | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ugadi | ಯುಗಾದಿ | Kannada new year, in spring |
| Sankranti | ಸಂಕ್ರಾಂತಿ | harvest festival, in January |
| Ganesha Chaturthi | ಗಣೇಶ ಚತುರ್ಥಿ | celebrates Lord Ganesha |
| Dasara | ದಸರಾ | famous in Mysuru |
| Deepavali | ದೀಪಾವಳಿ | festival of lights |
| Kannada Rajyotsava | ಕನ್ನಡ ರಾಜ್ಯೋತ್ಸವ | Karnataka state formation day, 1 November |
Ugadi
ಯುಗಾದಿ marks the beginning of the new year in the Kannada calendar. A traditional preparation called ಬೇವು-ಬೆಲ್ಲ (bevu-bella), a mix of neem and jaggery, symbolises the mix of bitter and sweet in life.
Mysuru Dasara
The ದಸರಾ celebrations in Mysuru are among the state's best-known festivals, with a grand procession and an illuminated palace.
Kannada Rajyotsava
On 1 November, Karnataka celebrates the formation of the state in 1956, bringing Kannada-speaking regions together. The yellow-and-red Kannada flag is displayed widely.
Festival words
| Kannada | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ಹಬ್ಬ | festival |
| ಪೂಜೆ | worship, prayer |
| ದೇವಸ್ಥಾನ | temple |
| ಸಿಹಿ | sweet |
| ರಂಗೋಲಿ | rangoli |
| ದೀಪ | lamp |
Greetings
- ಹಬ್ಬದ ಶುಭಾಶಯಗಳು. — Festival greetings.
- ಯುಗಾದಿ ಹಬ್ಬದ ಶುಭಾಶಯಗಳು. — Happy Ugadi.
- ದೀಪಾವಳಿ ಶುಭಾಶಯಗಳು. — Happy Deepavali.
- ಕನ್ನಡ ರಾಜ್ಯೋತ್ಸವದ ಶುಭಾಶಯಗಳು. — Greetings on Kannada Rajyotsava.
- ನಿಮಗೂ ಶುಭಾಶಯಗಳು. — Greetings to you as well.
Tips
- Learn ಹಬ್ಬ and ಶುಭಾಶಯಗಳು.
- Learn the greeting for each festival.
- Use the dictionary to check spellings.
English Kannada Dictionary
Offline English–Kannada dictionary with meanings in proper Kannada script
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