Festivals of Andhra Pradesh You Can’t Miss!

Andhra Pradesh is a magnet attracting people from all walks of life and people from all around the globe. Thousands of people visit the state of Jasmines, Andhra Pradesh, each year to explore the distinct culture of Andhra Pradesh. Festivals are the symbols to understand one’s culture. The festivals of Andhra Pradesh are lavish and would not fail in giving you chills of excitement. Here is a list of the eight most famous festivals of Andhra Pradesh.  

Pongal 

Pongal, or what you might know as Makar Sakranti, is one of the most famous festivals in the state. It is a harvest festival and observes the inception of the harvesting season. Although the festival is famous all over the country, the people of Andhra Pradesh celebrate it uniquely.  

In Andhra Pradesh, people dress up as ancient mythological characters on the occasion of Pongal. Pongal is a four-day event where the first day observes the Bhogi Panduga, the second day is the Pedda Panuga, the third is the Mattu Pongal, and the last is the Kanuma Panduga. And how can we miss the delicious feast and sweet rice Pongal of the Festival?  

Ugadi    

In Andhra Pradesh, people celebrate Ugadi as New Year’s Day. Locally, people call it Gudi Padwa. It is a festival based on the lunisolar calendar. You can be part of this festival at the end of March or the beginning of April. And as we know that festivals in India are incomplete without mouth-watering dishes, on Ugadi too, people make lots of tasty sweets. Puran Poli and Bhakshya are ritual sweets of the festival. The most astonishing part of the festival is the making of banana leaves garland. People in Andhra Pradesh make banana leaves garlands for hanging them on their doors.  

Other than Andhra Pradesh, Southern states, including Telangana and Karnataka, also celebrate the festival with utmost enthusiasm. 

Deccan Festival 

The Deccan festival is the most exuberant Festival of Andhra Pradesh, and you would witness the five-day-long festival celebrated most astonishingly. This festival is different from the traditional festivals of the state, as the festival is about art, cuisine, and culture rather than mythology and religion.  

The best part about the Deccan festival is the local fairs and exhibitions that you would see at several places all over the state. The nights spent with cultural programs, dance performances, and poetry sessions complete the festival and the festive vibe of the festival.  

Lumbini Festival 

The Lumbini festival is a Buddhist festival. The Department of Tourism of the State Government of Andhra Pradesh is responsible for organizing the festival. The festival aims at reviving the knowledge about the significance of Buddhism in the medieval history of Andhra Pradesh. The main objective is to promote and highlight the Buddhist culture in the state.  

The festival goes on for three days in December and is now one of the greatest and most famous festivals in Andhra Pradesh. Many tourists visit Andhra Pradesh in December to be a part of this joyous festival. 

Vinayaka Chaturthi 

Vinayaka Chaturthi, also known as Ganesha Chaturthi in Maharashtra, is the most vibrant festival of Andhra Pradesh and the country. In Andhra Pradesh, people celebrate the Chaturthi or the birthday of Lord Ganesha by worshipping the god with leaves, flowers, sandal paste, vermilion, and kheer. The festival culminates with the immersion of the idol of Lord Ganesha in the lake. 

Rayalaseema Food and Dance Festival 

The Rayalaseema Food and Dance Festival is the most significant Art Mela in the state. The people of Andhra Pradesh encapsulate in traditional and religious festivals and cultural festivals aiming at the promotion of art and culture. The Rayalaseema Food and Dance Festival is a living example of this. The festival stands dedicated to art and crafts, food, and cultural dances. The people organize this festival during the festive month of October in the region Rayalaseema.

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Visakha Utsav 

Visakha Utsav is a cultural festival of South India, and the festival is neither mythology-based nor traditional. The state government of Andhra Pradesh organizes the Visakha Utsaveach year at the end of December, and the four-day festival event was first organized in 1997.  

You can not miss this Festival in Andhra Pradesh. It is a hub of all cultural ties up in the state. You would witness many cultural events, including sports events, traditional crafts, shows, garment exhibitions, flower shops, and heritage tours. There is no chance of facing boredom. If you are an admirer of cultural beauty, you have to attend the Visakha Utsav. 

Tirumala Brahmotsavam

Brahmotsavam or the Tirupati Tirumala Brahmotsavam is a Hindu festival. The only temple where you would see the celebration of this festival is at the Tirumala Venkateswara temple. The nine-day festival dedicated to the sole worship of Lord Brahma forms the first religious festival in the state of Andhra Pradesh. To become a part of this eventful ceremony, you would have to plan your trip to Andhra Pradesh in October. The last day of the festival, the ninth day, is extraordinary and the most interesting one. On the last day, there is a display of bliss scenes of the procession of Lord Venkateshwara passing by various streets. This goes on till midnight.  

Suggested Read – Enchanting Folk Dances of Andhra Pradesh Reflecting Telugu Culture

Final Thoughts

This completes our list of festivals of Andhra Pradesh. The state is culturally rich, and this unique aspect of walking on the road of culture, heritage, and mythology together is visible only in Andhra Pradesh. Many festivals of Andhra Pradesh find their origin or base from the mythological legends, others from religious traditions, and the most recent ones developed as a part of the promotion of state tourism. The festivals in the state attract thousands of visitors each year and serve as a great way to display the state’s eclectic, vibrant and joyous culture.