MIC President Vigneswaran extends Ugadi Greetings to Malaysia’s Telugu Community

KUALA LUMPUR — MIC president Tan Sri Dato’ Sri S.A. Vigneswaran has conveyed his heartfelt New Year greetings to all Telugu-speaking Malaysians ahead of the Ugadi festival, which falls on Thursday, March 19 this year.

In a message issued today (Wednesday, March 18 2026), Tan Sri Vigneswaran wished the Telugu community happiness, prosperity, and continued growth, urging its members to play an active role in the Malaysian national mainstream through the political vehicle of MIC.

Reflecting on the relationship between MIC and the Telugu community, the MIC chief said the party’s long-standing dedication to the community’s welfare and advancement was a matter of public record. He expressed personal pride that the Telugu community has, in turn, remained a steadfast pillar of support throughout MIC’s decades-long journey as Malaysia’s foremost Indian political party.

“MIC has always worked with genuine concern for the growth and well-being of the Telugu community, and the nation knows this,” he said, adding that the community’s loyalty and solidarity had been a source of great encouragement to the party.

Ugadi — also spelt Yugadi — is one of the most significant festivals in the Telugu cultural calendar, marking the dawn of the Telugu New Year. Celebrated annually on the day following the new moon in the Hindu month of Panguni, just before the Tamil month of Chithirai, the festival is observed with traditional rituals, family gatherings, and the preparation of special dishes that symbolise the varied experiences of life.

This year’s celebrations mark the arrival of a new year in the traditional Hindu calendar, with festivities expected to take place across Telugu community centres and households throughout Malaysia.

In his Ugadi message, Tan Sri Vigneswaran extended greetings not only to the Telugu community at large but specifically to MIC members, leaders, and supporters nationwide. He expressed his hope that the Telugu people would continue to scale new heights — contributing to the nation’s progress while upholding their rich cultural heritage.

Vigneswaran also noted that the MIC, one of the founding members of the Barisan Nasional coalition, has historically been the primary political representative of the Indian community in Malaysia, with the Telugu-speaking segment forming one of its notable constituencies alongside the predominant Tamil-speaking population.