The festival marking the beginning of the Kannada New Year:

Hampi Utsav
Varamahalakshmi
Ugadi
Deepavali

The correct answer is C) Ugadi.

Ugadi is a Hindu festival that marks the beginning of the Kannada New Year. It is celebrated on the first day of the lunisolar month of Chaitra, which usually falls in the month of March or April in the Gregorian calendar. The festival is also known as Yugadi, Gudi Padwa, Chaitra Navratri, and Navreh.

Ugadi is a time for family and friends to come together and celebrate the new year. It is also a time for people to reflect on the past year and make resolutions for the new year. The festival is celebrated with a variety of rituals and traditions, including the preparation of special food, the exchange of gifts, and the performance of religious ceremonies.

One of the most important rituals of Ugadi is the preparation of a special dish called pachadi. Pachadi is a mixture of six different ingredients, which represent the six tastes that are said to exist in the world: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, pungent, and astringent. The preparation of pachadi is a symbolic way of welcoming the new year and celebrating the diversity of life.

Another important ritual of Ugadi is the exchange of gifts. People give each other gifts of flowers, fruits, and other items that are considered to be auspicious. The exchange of gifts is a way of showing love and affection for one another and of welcoming the new year with good cheer.

Ugadi is also a time for people to perform religious ceremonies. People visit temples and offer prayers to the gods. They also pray for good health, prosperity, and happiness in the new year.

Ugadi is a time for joy and celebration. It is a time for people to come together and celebrate the new year. It is also a time for people to reflect on the past year and make resolutions for the new year.