List of festivals in Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh celebrates many religiousfestivals and has few holidays. Ugadi and Sankranti (Pedda Panduga) are the most significant festivals in the state. Festivals celebrated/observed by a considerable population are only listed here.

Major religious festivals

Bhogi bonfire in Andhra Pradesh

Annual

Festival name	Date - Hindu lunar calendar	Date - Gregorian calendar	Description
Ugadi	1st day of Chaitra	March–April	It is referred as the "Telugu New Year". Ugadi in Telugu means New Year
Sri Rama Navami	9th day of Chaitra	March–April	Sri Rama Navami is the celebration of the birth of Rama. It is the day on which Lord Rama, the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu, incarnated in human form in Ayodhya. He is the ardha ansh of Vishnu or has half the divinitive qualities of Lord Vishnu.
Ekadasi		July–August
Varalakshmi Vratam	2nd Friday of Sravanam	July–August	It is a puja performed by married Hindu women to seek the blessings of Mahalakshmi, goddess of wealth and prosperity.
Vinayaka Chavithi	4th day of Bhaadrapadam	August–September	It is celebrated as the arrival of Vinayaka on the earth.
Navaratri	Chaitra and Ashvini	September–October	The nine-day festival of Durga culminates in Vijayadashami (Dasara). This is one of the three auspicious days of the year.
Vijayadashami	Tenth day of waxing moon of Ashvini	September–October	It is the Hindu celebration of good over evil.
Peerla Panduga			Observed by Muslims. It is a celebrated by across the Sufi shrines called as Ashurkhana.
Atla Tadde	3rd night after the full moon in Ashvini	September–October	Celebrated by married Hindu women of Andhra Pradesh for the health and long life of their husbands.
Deepavali	Ashvini-Kartikam	October–November	Deepavali which means "row of lights/lamps" in Telugu. "Deepam" means lamp. The festival is celebrated on the occasion of Lord Krishna and his wife Satyabhama killing a demon Narakasura. Another story says the festival is celebrated for the return of Rama and Sita to the kingdom Ayodhya after fourteen years of exile.
Kartika Pournami	15th of the Full moon day of Kartikam	November–December
Bhogi	Maagam	13 or 14 January	On Bhogi, the first day of Sankranthi festive season, people discard old and derelict things and concentrate on new things causing change or transformation. At dawn, people light a bonfire with logs of wood, other solid-fuels and wooden furniture at home that are no longer useful. [1] The disposal of derelict things is where all old habits, vices, attachment to relations and material things are sacrificed in the sacrificial fire of the knowledge of Rudra, known as the "Rudra Gita Jnana Yajna". It represents realization, transformation and purification of the soul by imbibing and inculcating various divine virtues.
Sankranthi	Maagam	14 or 15 January	Sankranthi marks the transition of the Sun into Makara rasi. It is an important harvest festival in India.
Kanuma	Maagam	15 or 16 January	Third day of the four-day Sankranthi festive season.Kanuma festival is a significant event in Andhra Pradesh which celebrates cattle worship. It takes place on the third day of Makar Sankranti and honors the divine intervention of Lord Krishna, who saved the villagers and their cattle from a deadly flood by lifting Govardhan Hill.

Non-Annual

Festival name	Date - Hindu lunar calendar	Date - Gregorian calendar	Description
Krishna Pushkaralu		August	It is a festival of River Krishna which normally occurs once in every 12 years
Godavari Pushkaralu	Ashadam	June–July	It is a festival of Godavari River which normally occurs once in every 12 years
Tungabhadra Pushkaralu		November–December	It is a festival of Tungabhadra River which normally occurs once in every 12 years

Minor Religious Festivals

Festival name	Date - Hindu lunar calendar	Date - Gregorian calendar	Description
Maha Sivaratri	Thirteenth night of the waning moon of Maagam	February–March	Maha Sivaratri is the great night of Shiva, during which followers of Shiva observe religious fasting and the offering of Bael (Bilva) leaves to Shiva
Holi	Phalgunam full moon	March–April	The festival celebrates the eternal and divine love of Radha and Krishna. It also signifies the triumph of good over evil, as it celebrates the victory of Lord Vishnu as Narasimha Narayana over Hiranyakashipu.
Eid al-Fitr	–	May–July	The day marks the end of the month-long dawn-to-sunset fasting of Ramadan
Rakhi Purnima	Last day of Sraavanam	July–August
Krishnashtami	Ashtami in the dark half of Shravan	August–September	Birthday of Lord Krishna on Shravan Vadya ashtami is observed with a fast.
Christmas	–	25 December	It is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ.

References

1. Post Jagran Article 15 01 2014