Festivals : Andhra Pradesh

Deccan Festival
Every year gracious Hyderabad comes alive during the Deccan Festival. There are cultural programmes with ghazal nights, qawalis and mushairas, typical of the city. A pearl and bangle fair displays creations in lustrous pearls and multi-hued bangles that are local specialities. A food fest serves the best of Hyderabad's famed cuisine to visitors. For more details...Click Here

Kite Festival
The popular Kite Festival of Hyderabad is held in the month of January and is organized at Shilparamam and some other parts of the city. There are many sporting kite flyers around to take the challenge. Various sizes of kites are on display from palm-sized ones to huge kites as big as a bus. If you are visiting with kids, buy a kite and let them join in the event.

Lumbini Festival 
In the month of December a festival is organized to celebrate the Buddhist Heritage of Andhra Pradesh. The festival is celebrated in Nagarjunasagar and Hyderabad for three days and is interesting to see or experience.

Festival of Andhra Pradesh
This 10 day cultural festival is held in the month of November to mark the anniversary of Andhra Pradesh’s statehood. Eminent musicians and dancers perform during this festival.

Mrigasira
On this day a unique cure for asthma is administered to patients from all over India; swallow live a small freshwater fish called maral. Many sufferers claim miraculous cures. It is celebrated in the month of June.

All India Industrial Exhibitions
The All India Industrial Exhibition is organised by the Exhibition society at Nampally grounds in Hyderabad. This exhibition is held annually from 1st of January to 10th of February. It is one of the most prestigious events of Hyderabad city and it is customary for every Hyderabadi to make a visit to the exhibition with their family and friends.

The exhibition was started in 1938 as a local exhibition, i.e. "Numaish", to display the indigenously produced goods in the erstwhile Hyderabad state, has now become one of the largest trade fairs of India.

The All India Industrial exhibition has today come to be recognised as one of the biggest show-window in the country for trade, commerce and Industry. This exhibition has become so popular, that its scope increased enormously both in its coverage and content. Traders from all over India put up their stalls and there are around 2600 stalls, and over 25 lakh visitors in the form of consumers, exhibitors, traders, etc.

Today almost all the state and central Government directly or through their undertakings are represented in this exhibition. It is a big open-air shopping mall with garments, handicrafts, electrical goods, glassware, furniture, kitchenware etc. There are also stalls selling popcorn, chat varieties, sweets, cool drinks, fleecy pink candy made of sugar etc. Children enjoy the joy rides like Gaint wheel, Tora Tora, Dragon ride and more.

It is open throughout the day, but usually people come in large numbers in the evenings. The shops are open up till midnight.

Srirama Navami Festival, Bhadrachalam
The festival is celebrated at Bhdrachalam which continues for ten days from 'Chaitra Suddha Saptami' to 'Bahula Padyami' in the month of March/April.

The festival attracts devotees from various parts of the country. It is a special day for Ramabhaktas as it is the birthday of Lord Rama. The festival introduced during Tana Shah's rule (nearly 400 years ago) which also continued through the Nizam's rule, is still celebrated today with the same fervor. Popularly known as Kalyanotsavam, this festival is also attended by many VVIPs of the state. The event is lived on AIR and television. 

Pushkaram of Godavari, Krishna, Pennar
Pushkaram is a Hindu religious festival held once in every 12 years on the banks of the rivers Godavari, Krishna and Pennar in Andhra Pradesh. People consider it sacred to have a holy dip in these rivers, hence they gather in large numbers at these banks. There is a popular belief that taking a dip in these rivers will wash away all the sins.  

The venues for these fairs are "Rajahmundry" for 'Godavari Pushkaram', Vijayawada for Krishna Pushkaram and Kovur town in Nellore district for 'Pennar Pushkaram'.

Visakha Utsav
This festival is organized by the state tourism department of Andhra Pradesh every year from third Friday to Sunday of January in Vishakhapatnam. This is the best time to explore the rich art and crafts and cuisines of Vishakhapatnam. The festival also hosts several cultural programmes, sport events, food fair, exhibitions, fashion shows, etc.

Urs of Hazrat Ali
Urs of Hazrat Ali is a popular festival in Kohir, 120 kms from Hyderabad. Originally it was called as Omkaram" or "Ahankarapattanam", but was changed into "Kohir" during the rule of the Muslims. During the month of October-November Urs is held at the Daragh of Hajrat Ali which attracts more than 5000 devotees from all over the state.

All India Festival of Arts & Crafts, Shilparamam
Shilparamam, a Crafts Village set amidst lovely rocks, rippling waterfalls and gorgeous lawns, about 14-km from Hyderabad. Since 1995, an international craft festival is being organized annually in the month of December. The fair offers an opportunity to the artisans of the whole country to come and display their exclusive creations.

 

Festivals

Deepavali
India is a melting pot of races and religions. Every religion has its own unique style of celebration. But Diwali (Deepawali), the Festival of Light, is celebrated in the whole state of Andhra Pradesh with fervor and gaiety among all races and religions. For more details...Click Here

Holi
Holi is one of the important festivals of Andhra Pradesh celebrated on the day of Purnima in the month of Phalguna. It celebrates the arrival of spring and death of demoness Holika; it is a celebration of joy and hope. Holi provides a refreshing respite from the mundane norms as people from all walks of life enjoy themselves. For more details...Click Here

Eid-Ul-Fitr
Eid-ul-Fitr, popularly known as the "Festival of the Breaking of the Fast", occurs as soon as the new moon is sighted at the end of the month of fasting, namely Ramadan. The festival is intended to be a festive and joyous occasion. For more details...Click Here

Krishna Ashtami
Krishna Ashtami or Janmashtami is a popular festival in Andhra Pradesh celebrated with great enthusiasm. On this day a mandapam is made where idol of Lord Krishna is kept inside to perform puja. For more details...Click Here

Maha Sivarathri
On this day, the great night of the Lord Shiva, devotees stay awake throughout the night offering prayers to Lord Shiva. They offer special food made from the fruits of the season, root vegetables and coconut to the Lord. Special celebrations are held in some of the major Shiva temples at Kalahasti (Andhra Pradesh). For more details...Click Here

Muharram
The festival commemorates the martyrdom of the prophet Mohammed's grandson- Hazrat Imam Hussein. It is celebrated with great fervour by the Muslims especially the Shia community. Tazias, glittering replicas of the Martyr's tomb, are carried in procession through the streets. For more details...Click Here

Vijaya Dasami (Dasara)
Dussehra is the most popular festival in Andhra Pradesh. It is a Hindu festival, which is celebrated all over the state to mark the defeat of Ravana by Lord Rama. Dussehra also symbolises the triumph of warrior Goddess Durga over the buffalo demon, Mahishasura. For more details...Click Here

Christmas
Christmas, the birth anniversary of Jesus Christ is celebrated in Andhra Pradesh with great fervor all over the state by the Christians. People decorate their houses, erect Christmas trees, and make cribs with figures of baby Jesus, Mother Mary, Joseph, the three kings who come to visit the baby and shepherd boys and their herds grazing around depicting the scenes of Jesus's Birth in the Bible. For more details...Click Here

Nagapanchami or Nagula Cahvithi
Nag-Panchami is an important festival of South India and is celebrated on the fifth day of the moonlit-fortnight in the month of Shravan (July /August). This is the time when serpents invariably come out of their holes that get inundated with rain-water to seek shelter in gardens and many times in houses. The festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm especially at Adiesha Temple in Andhra Pradesh. For more details...Click Here

Makara Sankranthi
Makar Sankranti is celebrated in the month of 'Magh' and is a harvest festival. It is a celebration of spring on the occasion of the 'ascent' of the sun to the north (Uttarayana). In some parts of Andhra Pradesh, Makar Sankranti is a day of goodwill and friendship. For more details...Click Here

Ugadi
In South India, Ugadi marks the beginning of a new year. It is the festival when the earth appears in a special delight. The beginning of Basanta Ritu (spring) offers life to plants with new shoots and leaves. We see budding tender leaves, flowers and fruits; listen to chanting of birds and smell fragrance of flowers from distance. We find happiness booming everywhere. Naturally, it is the happiest day of the year. The vibrancy of life and verdant fields and meadows full of colorful blossoms signifies growth, prosperity and well-being.

The name Ugadi has been derived from the word Yuga Aadi (Yuga + Aadi) means beginning of new age. It is believed that the creator of the Hindu pantheon Lord Brahma started creation on this day - Chaithra Shuddha Prathipade or the Ugadi day.

People celebrate the festival by cleaning their houses, buying new clothes and offering puja to God for their prosperity. Houses are decorated with fresh mango leaves and special Ugadi dishes are prepared during the occasion. This is the most preferred time to start new ventures as it is the happiest day of the year.

Vara Laxmi Vratam
It is a religious festival celebrated to worship Varalakshmi (Lakshmi, consort of Lord Vishnu). It falls on Friday before the full moon in the month of Sravana.

On this particular Friday housewives wake up early, finish their mangalasnanam, wear new clothes and decorate their front yard with rangoli patterns on it. Later a small pandal is erected with plantain trunks and festoons are tied on its upper parts. A small copper vessel filled with water, coconut and three betel leaves (Kalasam) is placed on a stool. The Kalasam is worshipped by sprinkling flowers and rice mixed in turmeric powder.

After worshipping, the idol or picture of Lakshmi is put behind the vessel or in the vessel itself. Flowers and turmeric mixed rice are sprinkled on the idol or picture & sandalwood mixed rice is offered. After burning of incense, nine threads twisted together are worn round the right wrist as a bracelet. Fruits and cooked flour dishes are offered to at least 5 housewives, elders and others.

Vinayaka Chavithi
Ganesh or Vinayaka Chavithi is dedicated to Lord Ganesh (son of Lord Shiva), the elephant - headed God of all good beginnings and success. The festival celebrated as the birth day of Lord Ganesha, held annually in Andhra Pradesh and continued for 10 days. For more details...Click Here