What's happening in Andhra?
The festivals worth planning a year around, and the events worth a detour. Dates that follow the lunar calendar are announced by organisers — always confirm before travelling.
Festivals
Sankranti
The harvest festival and the great homecoming of the Telugu year — Bhogi bonfires, muggulu at dawn, gangireddu bulls, kites and ariselu. Konaseema's Prabhala Theertham processions and the delta's bullock-cart races are the most spectacular versions.
Pydithalli Ammavari Sirimanotsavam
Vizianagaram's signature festival: the priest is tied to the top of a tall sirimanu pole and swung three times around the fort while lakhs watch — a tradition of the Pusapati royal family for over 250 years.
Godavari Pushkaralu 2027
The twelve-yearly Godavari Pushkaralu returns in 2027 when Jupiter enters Leo — twelve days of holy dips, pinda pradanam and cultural events on the river ghats, with Rajahmundry at the centre. The 2015 edition drew several crore pilgrims; expect large-scale arrangements and advance planning.
Flamingo Festival, Pulicat–Nelapattu
The district administration's annual celebration of the migratory season — birdwatching at Nelapattu and Pulicat, boat rides, exhibitions and cultural programmes when flamingos and pelicans are at their peak.
Rottela Panduga, Nellore
Nellore's inter-faith festival of 'exchanging rotis': devotees float rotis on the Swarnala Cheruvu tank beside the dargah, exchanging one wish fulfilled for another — one of the most distinctive festivals in south India.
Ugadi — Telugu New Year
The Telugu New Year: Ugadi pachadi with its six tastes, panchanga sravanam at temples, kavi sammelanams and bobbatlu at home. Statewide public holiday.
Temple events
Tirumala Salakatla Brahmotsavam
The annual nine-day Brahmotsavam of Sri Venkateswara at Tirumala — vahana sevas each morning and evening, the Garuda Seva that draws several lakh pilgrims, and Chakrasnanam on the final day. Dates are announced by TTD each year.
Kanaka Durga Dasara (Navaratri)
Vijayawada's biggest festival: the goddess is adorned in a different form each day of Navaratri, culminating in Teppotsavam — the swan-boat procession on the Krishna — on Vijayadasami. Lakhs of devotees climb Indrakeeladri; book darshan online.
Srisailam Maha Shivaratri Brahmotsavam
The Jyotirlinga's greatest festival — eleven days of vahana sevas ending with the Pagalankarana and the all-night Shivaratri jagaram, when the temple town in the Nallamala fills with pilgrims from four states.
Kotappakonda Maha Shivaratri Prabhalu
Villages across Palnadu build towering electric 'prabhalu' floats and bring them in procession to the three-peaked hill on Shivaratri night — a spectacle of light and several lakh people.
Simhachalam Chandanotsavam
The only day of the year when the sandal-paste covering is removed and the true form of Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha is revealed — Vizag's largest single-day pilgrimage.
Antarvedi Kalyanotsavam
The celestial wedding of Lakshmi Narasimha at the Godavari's meeting with the sea — a chariot procession and a beach fair that draws devotees from across the Godavari districts.
Sri Rama Navami Kalyanam, Vontimitta
The Andhra Pradesh government's official Sri Rama Navami celebration — the celestial wedding of Rama and Sita performed at Vontimitta with state honours and TTD's participation.
Kanipakam Vinayaka Chavithi Brahmotsavam
Three weeks of vahana sevas at the swayambhu Vinayaka temple, ending with the Rathotsavam and Teppotsavam on the temple tank.
Sri Raghavendra Swamy Aradhana
The annual Aradhana of Sri Raghavendra Swamy at his Brindavana on the Tungabhadra — the busiest three days of the year in Mantralayam, with devotees from Karnataka, Andhra, Telangana and Tamil Nadu.
Bhavani Deeksha Viramana
Lakhs of Bhavani devotees in red end their 41-day deeksha at the Kanaka Durga temple over four to five days — one of the largest gatherings in the city each year.
Vaikuntha Ekadasi at Tirumala
The Vaikuntha Dwaram — the northern gate of the sanctum — is opened for ten days around Vaikuntha Ekadasi; darshan through it is the most sought-after of the year and is issued by TTD through special tokens.