Festivals

Dasara, or Devi Navaratri, honours the Divine Mother over nine nights, ending in victory on Vijayadashami. At Vijayawada, Sri Kanaka Durga is adorned in a different alankaram each day; homes observe Saraswati puja, Ayudha puja and the Jammi puja.

Deepavali, the festival of lights, celebrates the victory of light over darkness. In Andhra Pradesh and Telangana the main day is Naraka Chaturdashi, remembering the fall of Narakasura before Satyabhama and Krishna, followed by Lakshmi puja and rows of lamps.

Karthika Masam, the holiest month of the year for Telugu devotees, is sacred to Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. It is observed with dawn river baths, daily lamps, Karthika Somavaram fasts, Vana Bhojanalu under the usiri tree and Pancharama darshan, and peaks on Karthika Pournami with the Jwala Thoranam.

Dhanurmasam is the sacred month when the Sun is in Dhanus. Vishnu temples wake the Lord with Andal's Tiruppavai in the early dawn – at Tirumala it takes the place of the Suprabhatam – and offer pongal as prasadam. The month ends on Bhogi with Goda Kalyanam, the divine wedding of Andal and Lord Ranganatha.

Vaikuntha Ekadasi, called Mukkoti Ekadasi in the Telugu states, is the day the gates of Vaikuntha are believed to open. Vishnu temples open their northern gate for Uttara Dwara Darshanam, drawing lakhs of devotees to Tirumala, Bhadrachalam, Yadadri and Dwaraka Tirumala.

Makara Sankranti, the great harvest festival of the Telugu states, is celebrated over three days – Bhogi, Sankranti and Kanuma – with Bhogi bonfires, muggulu, Haridasulu, Gangireddulu, kite flying and the Kanuma worship of cattle.

Sri Panchami, also called Vasant Panchami, is the festival of Goddess Saraswati, the giver of knowledge, speech and the arts. Families worship the Goddess along with books and pens, and many children begin their education with Aksharabhyasam – above all at the Gnana Saraswathi temple in Basara.

Ratha Saptami, the birthday of Surya, the Sun God, is celebrated on Magha Shukla Saptami with a sunrise bath under seven jilledu leaves and worship of the Sun. Tirumala holds a one-day Brahmotsavam on seven vahanams, and Arasavalli's Sun temple draws lakhs.

Maha Shivaratri, the great night of Lord Shiva, is observed with fasting, night-long jagarana and abhishekam to the Shiva Lingam. In the Telugu states, lakhs gather at Srisailam, Kotappakonda and Keesaragutta.

Holi, known in the Telugu lands as Kamuni Punnami, is the spring festival of Phalguna Pournami. Villages light the Kama Dahanam bonfire, remembering how Lord Shiva burnt Kamadeva with his third eye, and the next morning everyone celebrates with colours. Many Vishnu temples hold Dolotsavam, the swing festival of the Lord.

Sri Rama Navami celebrates the birth of Lord Sri Rama on Chaitra Shukla Navami. In the Telugu states it is also the day of the Sita Rama Kalyanam, with grand celebrations at Bhadrachalam and Vontimitta, and panakam and vadapappu for all.

Hanuman Jayanti celebrates the appearance of Sri Anjaneya Swamy, the mighty devotee of Lord Rama. In Andhra Pradesh and Telangana it is kept on Vaishakha Bahula Dashami, when Hanuman Deeksha devotees complete their vow at temples such as Kondagattu and Karmanghat; much of India celebrates it on Chaitra Purnima.