Festivals

Akshaya Tritiya – the "never-diminishing" third day of Vaishakha – is a day when charity, prayer and good deeds are believed to bear endless fruit. It is also the day of Simhachalam's Chandanotsavam, when the sandalwood covering of Lord Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha is removed for the once-a-year Nijaroopa Darshanam, and it is linked with Parasurama Jayanti.

Narasimha Jayanti celebrates the appearance of Lord Narasimha, who emerged from a pillar at dusk to protect his young devotee Prahlada. Devotees fast and worship the Lord at sunset with panakam and vadapappu, and the great Narasimha kshetras of the Telugu lands – Yadadri, Simhachalam, Mangalagiri, Antarvedi and Kadiri – celebrate with special abhishekams.

Tholi Ekadasi – the "first Ekadasi" – is the day Lord Vishnu is believed to enter his yogic sleep for four months, and it marks the start of the sacred Chaturmasya. Devotees fast, visit Vishnu temples and offer Pelala Pindi, a sweet of popped jowar and jaggery that is shared as prasadam.

Guru Purnima, also called Vyasa Purnima, honours Sage Veda Vyasa and every guru who leads us from darkness to light. Devotees perform Vyasa puja, seek the blessings of their teachers and elders, and throng Sai Baba temples, while sannyasis begin their Chaturmasya vow on this full moon.

Shravana Pournami brings three celebrations together: sisters tie the rakhi on their brothers' wrists, those who wear the sacred thread change it in the Upakarma ritual – hence Jandhyala Purnima – and devotees worship Lord Hayagriva, the protector of the Vedas, on his Jayanti.

Sri Krishna Janmashtami, or Gokulashtami, celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna. Telugu homes draw little footprints at the door, dress their children as Krishna, offer butter and atukulu, and villages and streets come alive with the Utti festival.

Vinayaka Chavithi celebrates Lord Ganesha on Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi. Telugu homes worship a clay Ganesha with 21 kinds of leaves, read the Vinayaka Vratha Katha and offer undrallu, while Hyderabad's Khairatabad Ganesh draws lakhs.

Pitru Paksha – the fortnight of the ancestors – is the time when families remember and honour those who have gone before them with tarpanam, pinda pradanam and charity. It ends on Mahalaya Amavasya, the new moon dedicated to all ancestors, the day before Devi Navaratri begins.