Complete calendar of Andhra Pradesh & Telangana festivals, vrats, and auspicious dates by Telugu month
January 14, 2026 — Harvest festival celebrating the Sun's transition into Makara Rashi. Three-day celebration with Bhogi, Sankranti, and Kanuma.
March 19, 2026 — Telugu New Year. Celebrated with Ugadi Pachadi, Panchanga Sravanam, and new beginnings.
November 8, 2026 — Festival of Lights celebrated with fireworks, diyas, and Lakshmi Puja.
September 14, 2026 — Grand 10-day celebration of Lord Ganesha with elaborate pandals and immersion processions.
The Telugu festival calendar follows the traditional Hindu lunisolar Panchangam, with months named after the Nakshatras (lunar mansions). Telugu calendar months — Chaitram, Vaisakham, Jyeshtham, Ashadham, Shravanam, Bhadrapadam, Ashwayujam, Kartikam, Margashiram, Pushyam, Magham, and Phalgunam — form the foundation of Telugu festival scheduling. The year begins with Ugadi in Chaitra month.
Makara Sankranti is the biggest festival in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, celebrated over three days. Bhogi (Day 1) involves burning old belongings in a bonfire to welcome the new. Sankranti (Day 2) is the main day when families draw colourful Muggulu (Rangoli) and prepare traditional dishes like Ariselu, Boorelu, and Pongali. Kanuma (Day 3) honours cattle and livestock. Cockfighting (now restricted) and kite flying are traditional Sankranti activities in the Telugu states.
Ugadi: The Telugu and Kannada New Year, celebrated on Chaitra Shukla Pratipada. Families prepare Ugadi Pachadi with six tastes — sweet (jaggery), sour (tamarind), bitter (neem), spicy (chilli), salty, and tangy (raw mango) — representing life's varied experiences. Panchanga Sravanam (listening to the new year's almanac predictions) is an important tradition.
Vinayaka Chavithi: One of the most grandly celebrated festivals in the Telugu states, observed on Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi. Elaborate Ganesh pandals are set up across cities, especially in Hyderabad where the famous Khairatabad Ganesh idol attracts lakhs of devotees. The 10-day celebration ends with Nimajjanam (immersion).
Bathukamma: A unique floral festival of Telangana, celebrated for nine days during Navaratri. Women create beautiful flower stacks (Bathukamma) using seasonal wildflowers and offer them to Goddess Gauri while singing traditional songs. It culminates on Saddula Bathukamma, two days before Dussehra.
Bonalu: A traditional Hindu festival of Telangana, celebrated during Ashada month (July-August) in honour of Goddess Mahankali. Women carry decorated pots (Bonam) filled with cooked rice, jaggery, and curd to the Goddess's temple. The celebrations are especially grand at Golconda, Secunderabad, and Lal Darwaza temples.
Each Telugu month has cultural and agricultural importance. Chaitram (Mar-Apr) marks the New Year with Ugadi. Shravanam (Aug-Sep) is considered the most auspicious month for marriages and Varalakshmi Vratam. Bhadrapadam (Sep-Oct) brings Vinayaka Chavithi and Krishna Janmashtami. Ashwayujam (Oct-Nov) features Navaratri and Dussehra. Kartikam (Nov-Dec) is the month of Deepavali and Karthika Deepam, with daily lamp lighting considered auspicious. Margashiram (Dec-Jan) is considered spiritually auspicious, especially for Vishnu worship and Mukkoti Ekadashi.
Ugadi, the Telugu New Year, is celebrated on March 19, 2026. It marks the beginning of a new Hindu lunar calendar year and is celebrated with the preparation of Ugadi Pachadi, a dish made with six flavours representing the different experiences of life.
Ugadi is the New Year for Telugu and Kannada-speaking people, falling on Chaitra Shukla Pratipada. It coincides with Gudi Padwa (Maharashtra) and Navreh (Kashmir). Tamil New Year (Puthandu) falls on April 14 based on the solar calendar, while Bengali New Year and Punjabi New Year fall on April 14-15.
Several festivals have unique regional significance in Telugu states: Bathukamma (a floral festival celebrated during Navaratri in Telangana), Bonalu (celebrated in honour of Goddess Mahankali during Ashada month), Sammakka Sarakka Jatara (one of Asia's largest tribal festivals held in Medaram, Telangana), and Kanuma/Mukkanuma (the 2nd and 3rd days of Sankranti).
Mukkoti Ekadashi, also known as Vaikunta Ekadashi, is the most significant Ekadashi for Telugu people, observed during Margashira month (December). It is believed that the gates of Vaikuntam open on this day. Devotees visit Vishnu temples, especially the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam where the Vaikunta Dwara Darshanam attracts millions of pilgrims.