Here’s a comprehensive list of festivals celebrated in Andhra Pradesh throughout the year, detailing their significance, food items associated with them, approximate dates, and traditional attire:
January
1. Sankranti / Pongal
- Date: January 14th
- Celebration: Sankranti marks the harvest season and the transition of the sun into the zodiac sign of Capricorn. It’s celebrated with kite flying, bonfires, and family gatherings.
- Food Items: Pongal (a rice and lentil dish), Garelu (fried lentil doughnuts), Ariselu (sweet rice cakes), and Pulihora (tamarind rice).
- Dress: Traditional attire includes men wearing dhotis and kurtas, while women wear sarees or half-sarees.
February
2. Maha Shivaratri
- Date: February 13th (dates vary based on the lunar calendar)
- Celebration: Dedicated to Lord Shiva, devotees fast and participate in night-long vigils at temples.
- Food Items: Devotees often consume fruits, milk, and other non-cereal foods during the fasting period.
- Dress: Traditional attire like sarees for women and dhotis for men, often in shades of white or saffron.
March
3. Ugadi
- Date: March 31st (dates vary based on the lunar calendar)
- Celebration: Ugadi is the Telugu New Year. Celebrations include decorating homes, cooking a special dish called Ugadi Pachadi, and visiting temples.
- Food Items: Ugadi Pachadi (a mixture of jaggery, tamarind, neem flowers, and raw mango), and other festive dishes like Pulihora and Bobbatlu (sweet flatbreads).
- Dress: People wear new clothes, typically sarees or lehengas for women and dhotis or kurtas for men.
4. Holi
- Date: March 25th
- Celebration: Known as the festival of colors, Holi involves playing with colored powders and water, dancing, and feasting.
- Food Items: Gujiya (sweet dumplings), Thandai (a spiced milk drink), and various snacks.
- Dress: Light, old clothes that can be easily washed as they will be stained with colors.
April
5. Baisakhi
- Date: April 13th
- Celebration: Although Baisakhi is primarily a Punjabi festival, it’s also observed in Andhra Pradesh, marking the harvest season.
- Food Items: Kichdi (a savory rice and lentil dish), and various traditional sweets.
- Dress: Traditional attire similar to that worn for Sankranti.
May
6. Naga Panchami
- Date: May 27th
- Celebration: This festival is dedicated to serpent deities. People offer milk and prayers to snake idols and live snakes.
- Food Items: Special sweets like Purnalu (sweet lentil dumplings).
- Dress: Traditional attire is worn, including sarees and dhotis.
June
7. Bonalu
- Date: June 25th (varies according to the lunar calendar)
- Celebration: A festival honoring the goddess Mahankali, celebrated with processions, rituals, and offerings of food in large pots.
- Food Items: Bonalu (a dish made of rice, jaggery, and curd), and Pulihora.
- Dress: Women typically wear colorful sarees or half-sarees, and men wear dhotis and kurtas.
July
8. Varalakshmi Vratam
- Date: July 28th (varies according to the lunar calendar)
- Celebration: A ritual dedicated to the goddess Lakshmi for prosperity and well-being. Women perform pooja and offer various dishes to the goddess.
- Food Items: Puliyodarai (tamarind rice), Sakkarai Pongal (sweet rice pudding).
- Dress: Women wear traditional sarees, often in bright colors, while men wear dhotis or kurtas.
August
9. Raksha Bandhan
- Date: August 19th
- Celebration: A festival celebrating the bond between brothers and sisters. Sisters tie a protective thread (rakhi) on their brothers’ wrists, and brothers give gifts in return.
- Food Items: Sweets like Rasgulla and Kaju Katli.
- Dress: Women wear sarees or salwar kameez, and men typically wear kurtas and pyjamas.
10. Ganesh Chaturthi
- Date: August 17th
- Celebration: Marks the birth of Lord Ganesh. Large idols of Ganesh are worshipped in homes and public spaces, culminating in immersion in water bodies.
- Food Items: Modak (sweet dumplings), Puran Poli (sweet flatbread), and Ukadiche Modak (steamed modaks).
- Dress: Traditional attire includes sarees for women and kurtas or dhotis for men.
September
11. Dussehra
- Date: September 29th
- Celebration: Celebrates the victory of good over evil, with the burning of effigies of Ravana and other celebrations.
- Food Items: Pulihora (tamarind rice), Garelu, and sweets like Jangri.
- Dress: Traditional attire like sarees or lehengas for women and dhotis or kurtas for men.
October
12. Diwali
- Date: October 31st
- Celebration: The festival of lights, marked by lighting oil lamps, fireworks, and festive meals.
- Food Items: Ladoo, Jalebi, Kachori, and Samosa.
- Dress: Women wear brightly colored sarees or lehengas, while men wear kurtas and sherwanis.
November
13. Deepavali
- Date: November 1st
- Celebration: Similar to Diwali, celebrated with grandeur, fireworks, and sweets.
- Food Items: Similar to Diwali with a focus on sweets and snacks.
- Dress: Traditional attire continues with festive colors and designs.
December
14. Christmas
- Date: December 25th
- Celebration: Celebrated by the Christian community with church services, feasts, and decorations.
- Food Items: Fruitcake, Plum cake, and various baked goods.
- Dress: Festive clothing, often including new clothes or special attire for church services.
This list captures the major festivals celebrated in Andhra Pradesh, reflecting the diverse cultural and religious landscape of the state. The dates mentioned are as per Gregorian Calendar. The actual dates change every year for local festivals, as locally a lunar calendar is followed.
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