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List of festivals in Andhra Pradesh

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Andhra Pradesh celebrates many religious festivals and has few holidays. Ugadi and Sankranti (Pedda Panduga) are the most significant festivals in the state. Festivals celebrated/observed by a considerable population are only listed here.

Major religious festivals

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Bhogi bonfire in Andhra Pradesh

Annual

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Festival name Date - Hindu lunar calendar Date - Gregorian calendar Description
Ugadi 1st day of Chaitra March–April It is referred as the "Telugu New Year". Ugadi in Telugu means New Year
Sri Rama Navami 9th day of Chaitra March–April Sri Rama Navami is the celebration of the birth of Rama. It is the day on which Lord Rama, the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu, incarnated in human form in Ayodhya. He is the ardha ansh of Vishnu or has half the divinitive qualities of Lord Vishnu.
Ekadasi July–August
Varalakshmi Vratam 2nd Friday of Sravanam July-August It is a puja performed by married Hindu women to seek the blessings of Mahalakshmi, goddess of wealth and prosperity.
Vinayaka Chavithi 4th day of Bhaadrapadam August–September It is celebrated as the arrival of Vinayaka on the earth.
Navaratri Chaitra and Ashvini September–October The nine-day festival of Durga culminates in Vijayadashami (Dasara). This is one of the three auspicious days of the year.
Vijayadashami Tenth day of waxing moon of Ashvini September–October It is the Hindu celebration of good over evil.
Peerla Panduga Observed by Muslims. It is a celebrated by across the Sufi shrines called as Ashurkhana.
Atla Tadde 3rd night after the full moon in Ashvini September–October Celebrated by married Hindu women of Andhra Pradesh for the health and long life of their husbands.
Deepavali Ashvini-Kartikam October–November Deepavali which means "row of lights/lamps" in Telugu. "Deepam" means lamp. The festival is celebrated on the occasion of Lord Krishna and his wife Satyabhama killing a demon Narakasura. Another story says the festival is celebrated for the return of Rama and Sita to the kingdom Ayodhya after fourteen years of exile.
Kartika Pournami 15th of the Full moon day of Kartikam November–December
Bhogi Maagam 13 or 14 January On Bhogi, the first day of Sankranthi festive season, people discard old and derelict things and concentrate on new things causing change or transformation. At dawn, people light a bonfire with logs of wood, other solid-fuels and wooden furniture at home that are no longer useful.[1] The disposal of derelict things is where all old habits, vices, attachment to relations and material things are sacrificed in the sacrificial fire of the knowledge of Rudra, known as the "Rudra Gita Jnana Yajna". It represents realization, transformation and purification of the soul by imbibing and inculcating various divine virtues.
Sankranthi Maagam 14 or 15 January Sankranthi marks the transition of the Sun into Makara rasi. It is an important harvest festival in India.
Kanuma Maagam 15 or 16 January Third day of the four-day Sankranthi festive season.

Non-annual

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Festival name Date - Hindu lunar calendar Date - Gregorian calendar Description
Krishna Pushkaralu August It is a festival of River Krishna which normally occurs once in every 12 years
Godavari Pushkaralu Ashadam June–July It is a festival of Godavari River which normally occurs once in every 12 years
Tungabhadra Pushkaralu November–December It is a festival of Tungabhadra River which normally occurs once in every 12 years

Minor religious festivals

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Festival name Date - Hindu lunar calendar Date - Gregorian calendar Description
Maha Sivaratri Thirteenth night of the waning moon of Maagam February–March Maha Sivaratri is the great night of Shiva, during which followers of Shiva observe religious fasting and the offering of Bael (Bilva) leaves to Shiva
Holi Phalgunam full moon March–April The festival celebrates the eternal and divine love of Radha and Krishna. It also signifies the triumph of good over evil, as it celebrates the victory of Lord Vishnu as Narasimha Narayana over Hiranyakashipu.
Eid al-Fitr May–July The day marks the end of the month-long dawn-to-sunset fasting of Ramadan
Rakhi Purnima Last day of Sraavanam July–August
Krishnashtami Ashtami in the dark half of Shravan August–September Birthday of Lord Krishna on Shravan Vadya ashtami is observed with a fast.
Christmas 25 December It is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ.

References

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  1. ^ [1] Post Jagran Article 15 01 2014