Festivals of Andhra Pradesh
The Festivals in Andhra Pradesh (APTDC)are celebrated with full glitz and passion. Located in Southern India, this region shares common cultural aspirations with rest of the country. The travelers who are quiet fascinated to treasure every moment can think of visiting Andhra Pradesh when festivity is at extreme. The APTDC Festivals are as follows:
Shankaranthi: During the celebration of Shankaranthi, the dish named Ponjgal is made from rice and jaggery. From adults to children, every one irrespective of community fly kites. The kite flying competitions are organized at mass level and people cook various types of cuisines. Some of the cuisines are offered to the gods and goddesses as the part of religious ceremony. It is celebrated in all parts of Andhra Pradesh, in the month of January. The date for the celebration of this festival is decided by the priests and astrological associations.
Ugadi: The New Year’s Day according to the Hindu calendar is celebrated with great elation during the months of March/April. Ugadi is also the harvest time of wheat and rice crops. The people during this season flaunt their wealth on new clothes. As the Mango season starts, different ranges of delicacies are prepared with mangoes as the key ingredient in their recipe. ‘Ugadi Pachchadi’ with the mélange of different flavors like tangy, bitter, sweet, spicy and salty is prepared in equal proportions. The chosen flavor predicts the year, it’s going to be. This is one of the best times when travelers can feel the cool reprieve of air and bright sun shine along the percussions of springs drapes the whole region.
Ganesh Chathurthi: The festival of Lord Ganesha, Ganesh Chaturthy will be celebrated on 1st September 2011. in Ganesh Chaturthi, elephant as the deity is worshipped. The tall 40 to 50 feet statute of Lord Ganesha is carried on chariots from the streets leading to the major lakes. The clusters of people throng to the roads and girdle it, to form the shape of auditorium. The local talent is allowed to perform some amazing activities which go unnoticed during the major part of the year. The celebrations are commenced by breaking the Ottu, card board container consisting of coins. On the final day, the idols of Lord are immersed in the lakes or the rivers and the mammoth of crowds participate to show their presence on this historical day. It is celebrated in every part of Andhra Pradesh and Hyderabad remains the main magnet.
Diwali: The festival of lights Diwali is celebrated with great glitz and fervor in Andhra Pradesh. Being the main festival, the people during this eve worship Goddess Laxmi and burn oil lamps, to brace the real meaning of festivity. During Diwali, gambling is done and cards are played to bring more fun. The cards are also played to attract money. People are of the belief that by strewing coins all over the floor during Diwali, the goddess Laxmi comes to their house and bless them with health, wealth and prosperity. This is also the best time, when visitors having a strong penchant for sweet flavors can relish various cookies. Celebrated in the month of November, the visitors at this time can also witness different art forms, and ablutions performed.
Dusherra: The festival of goddess Durga Devi, the destroyer of evil, and the incarnation of Parvathi is celebrated for nine days. People from Gujarati and Bengali community do Dandia Ras and Garba dance. Special venues have been accommodated to hold these festivals. Bengalis also being the part of same eve, carry this festivity for 10 to 12 days. During these days, the educational institutions remain close. Various religious activities are performed and people illuminate their houses with different lights and accessories. Celebrated in some parts of Andhra Pradesh in the month of October, the travelers have an option to treasure each and every moment of their holiday. On this festival only people in Andhra Pradesh make rangolies in front of their houses and worship the main goddess.
New Year: The celebrations for New Year are carried every where in Andhra Pradesh. Irrespective of cast, color, and region, people rush to various clubs to celebrate the eve with family or friends. Special programs are also organized lawns and auditoriums to mark an up coming of year ahead. The malls, shopping complex and halls conduct various fashion contests, fashion shows and talent shows which are surely the great magnets to attract various visitors. 1st of January is always celebrated as New Year in India and around the world.
Maha Shivaratri: The festival of Lord Shiva on which every one fasts and remains awake the whole night. As the darkness descends into morning, people after worshipping the Lord Shiva, break their fast. As lord Shiva is the supreme god and is known as reliever of sins, people in Andhra Pradesh, decorate their houses. The temples are also illuminated with lights and many cultural programs are organized. This time the Shivarathri will be celebrated on 3rdMarch 2011. This festival is celebrated all over Andhra Pradesh and Hindus mark their presence in good numbers.
Holi: Holi is an important festival in Indian calendar. Generally known as the festival of colors, Holi is celebrated in different ways in Andhra Pradesh. The splash of dry and water colors is splattered on every one. The wooden effigy is burnt on the full moon night and later, the prasada is distributed amongst the folks. In the year 2011, the holi will be celebrated on 20th March.
Mahankaali Jaathra: Pertaining and restricted to the Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh. A festival celebrated in the month of Aashad, which falls during the monsoon season. A unique, exciting and an important festival, dedicated to the worship of Goddess Maha Kali. During this 2 day festival the idol of the deity is taken around in a procession, amidst pulsating drum beats and burning of incense. Guardians of the deity called “Potharajus”,with their bodies smeared with turmeric and vermilion, present a scary sight with whips in their hands.
Most of the hundreds in the procession are in a trance like state and their frenzied dancing is an unforgettable sight indeed. This is one of the rare festivals on which non-vegetarian dishes are prepared.
Chirstmas: The birthday celebration of Lord Jesus is celebrated on 25th of December every year. The Mass prayers are held in churches and people on this day make various delicacies. Irrespective of caste and class, all people hailing to different religions throng to churches. Christmas is celebrated with great pomp and show in every corner of Andhra Pradesh. The celebrations of Christmas eve is best celebrated at St.Mary’s church, Vijayawada bustling with strong Christian populaces.
Id-Ul-Fitr: With the commencement of holy month of Ramzan, the 5 times offering of prayers and the fasting becomes the normal routine of the Muslim populace residing in the region. The people exchange sweets and greet each other with hugs. There are many Irani restaurants offer one of the best cuisines cooked in oven. On the 30th day upon sighting of new moon the festival is celebrated in a grand manner. The specialty on this day is “Sheer Kurma” a milk based sweet with vermicelli, raisins and nuts, One can find trays of delicacies being sent from one household to another and people hugging each other to convey their wishes.
Sri Ram Navami Festival: The ten days of this festival attracts good numbers of pilgrims to Bhadrachalam. The celebration starts from Chaitra Sudha Saptmi and continues till Bahula Padyami. The focal point of this festivity is Kalyanotsav. Celebrated in the months of March and April, this festival is more like fair which has been organized continuously from 100 years in Khammam district of Andhra Pradesh. It is also the one of the biggest temple fairs of the region receiving good numbers of pilgrims from every corner of the world.
Lumbini Festival: The Lumbini festival carrying the legacy of Budhdhist heritage is celebrated every year in the month of December. This festival is celebrated in Nagarjuna for three days. From second Friday, this festival starts receiving good numbers of pilgrims. During this festival various cultural programs showcasing the teachings of Buddha are organized. Budhdhist pilgrims conduct various rallies and many eminent personalities mark their presence.
Pushkaram Festival: The Pushkaram festival is organized once in twelve years. This festival is held on the banks of river Godavari, Krishna and Pennar. This is the festival of taking the sacred bath in these holy rivers. During this festival, a large number of people gather in these places. It is believed that a holy dip in any of these rivers help an individual to wash away all the sins. Festivals are generally incomplete without fairs and Puskaram is no exception here. Various stalls, shops and kiosks mark their presence. The visitors can buy sweets and can also see some wonderful performances of Kuchchipudi, near by the famous venues of Pushkaram.
Urs of Hazrat Ali: The Urs of Hazrat Ali is held in the Kohir region of Andhra Pradesh every year. The popular festival of the Urs is organized in the dargah of the saint in the town of Kohir. The followers of the Muslim religion gather here to pay homage in the memory of the saint Hazrat Ali every year. Located 12 kilometers away from Zahirabad, the famous Dargah of Saint Hazrat is nestled here. Many Muslim followers gather at Kohir to celebrate the union in the months of October and November.
All India Arts and Crafts festival: The All India Festival of Arts and Crafts at Shilparamam has acquired international fame. The artists arrive from all over the country to display their articles and to showcase their talents before the buyers. The importance of the fair is that the artists get the opportunity to exhibit their artistry in an open forum where the buyers can directly but the articles from its creator. The festival is hosted in the first two weeks of the month of March every year. The festival started in the year 1995 and has achieved tremendous success in the past years of its commencement. It is organized every year annually.
Perals and Bangles Fair: The Pearls and Bangles Fair is a part of the Deccan Festival. The fair is held during the festive months of February and March. The Pearls and Bangles Fair is held in Hyderabad. Pearls and bangles of all hues and designs are displayed in this fair. The pearls of the city are famed world wide. The lustrous shine and the quality of the pearls of Hyderabad are far famed and internationally renowned. The city has cultured different kinds of pearls of superior qualities.
Vaishakha Utsav: The people from all over the state gather to enjoy the festivities in Visakha Utsav. The festival is not limited to the city alone. The festival is celebrated in all parts of the state of Andhra Pradesh. The celebrations take place in the cold month of January. The third Friday of the month of January marks the commencement of the festival. The festival continues for three long days and closes on the Sunday of the same week. The three days are marked with vibrant celebrations.
Nagpanchami: Locally known as Nagula Cahvithi, the festival is followed in the rainy season of shravana. Since the numbers of casualties caused by snake bites are the highest during this time, so more and more people participate in the festival with the hope that King Cobra will protect them from other poisonous snakes. The rituals of the festival are usually performed by the womenfolk of the place who adorn themselves with vibrant attires and ornaments and come to mandapams where the idol of a Cobra with seven heads is set.
Varalaxmi Vratam: The festival of “Varalaxmi Vratam” is celebrated with much fanfare all over the state. On the day of “Varalaxmi Vratam”, married women wake up early to perform the “Puja” of the Goddess of Wealth. A holy thread which is yellow in color is tied in the hands of the married women. The women clean and decorate the place of worship of the Goddess with a bronze or silver pot which is filled with rice, water, lime, betel leaf and nuts which is a sign of prosperity. The Goddess is offered with many kinds of home made sweets. The women sing devotional songs in praise of the Goddess and invoke eternal marital bliss.
The festival of Varalaxmi Vratam has an important religious significance which reflects the respect, love and devotion of a woman towards her husband. Married women wear new clothes and jeweleries while observing the religious rituals on the day of “Varalaxmi Vratam”.
