Book Kondapur & Manikonda Pandits

Ugadi is the Telugu New Year on Chaitra Shukla Pratipada, marking the start of the Hindu lunar calendar across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Families listen to Panchanga Sravanam for the year's forecast, taste the symbolic Ugadi Pachadi representing life's six flavours, and invite pandits for Lakshmi or Navagraha puja. Temples in Hyderabad, Vijayawada, and Warangal see lakhs of devotees; merchants open new account books, and households decorate entrances with mango-leaf toranam for prosperity in the year ahead.

Makar Sankranti marks the sun's transit into Capricorn (Makara) and the harvest season across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Telugu families observe a four-day festival — Bhogi, Sankranti, Kanuma, and Mukkanuma — with bonfires, kite flying, cattle worship, and ellu-bella exchanges. Rural communities give thanks for the harvest; urban households in Hyderabad, Vijayawada, and Guntur book pandits for Lakshmi puja and community feasts mark the end of the agrarian cycle.

Maha Shivaratri is the great night of Lord Shiva, observed on Krishna Chaturdashi of Phalguna masam across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Devotees fast through the day, stay awake for jagarana (night vigil), and perform four praharas of abhishekam with milk, honey, and bilva leaves. Rudrabhishekam with Sri Rudram chanting is the most requested pandit service. Major Shiva shrines — Keesaragutta, Srisailam, Kotilingeshwara, and Mahanandi — draw lakhs of pilgrims on this sacred night.

Suggested: Rudrabhishekam

Sri Rama Navami celebrates Lord Rama's birth on Chaitra Shukla Navami across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Temples conduct Rama kalyanam and processions; families prepare paanakam (jaggery drink) and vadapappu (soaked moong) as prasad. Bhadrachalam, Vontimitta, and Dichpally Ramalayam are major pilgrimage centres. Devotees fast until noon, read Ramayana, and book pandits for home Rama puja with tulsi archana in Hyderabad, Kadapa, Vijayawada, and Tirupati region.

Vinayaka Chavithi (Ganesha Chaturthi) honours Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles, on Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Families install clay idols at home or join community pandals, perform pranapratishtha with a pandit, offer modakam and laddu naivedyam, and conduct visarjan after one, three, or eleven days. Hyderabad Old City, Vijayawada, and Visakhapatnam host large pandals; eco-friendly clay idols and water-tank immersions are widely promoted.

Bonalu is Telangana's state festival honouring Goddess Mahakali during Ashadha masam. Women carry bonam — rice cooked with jaggery and milk in decorated pots — to local Mahakali temples, accompanied by thottelu (colourful umbrellas) and Pothuraju dancers. Major celebrations occur at Ujjaini Mahakali in Secunderabad, Golconda Mahakali in Hyderabad Old City, and Bhadrakali Temple in Warangal. The festival expresses gratitude for fulfilled vows and community protection under the Mother Goddess.

Bathukamma is Telangana's nine-day floral festival during Bhadrapada masam, celebrating Goddess Gauri (Gauramma). Women arrange seasonal flower stacks — gunugu, tangedu, cassia, and marigold — in concentric layers, sing folk Bathukamma songs in circles, and immerse the stacks in lakes on Saddula Bathukamma. The festival prays for family wellbeing, marital bliss, and nature's abundance. Warangal's Thousand Pillar Temple hosts a major launch event; Hyderabad's Hussain Sagar sees mass immersions.

Suggested: Varalakshmi Vratam

Dasara spans nine nights of Navaratri worship culminating in Vijaya Dasami — the day of victory of good over evil. Telangana and Andhra Pradesh families perform Golu displays, Ayudha Puja, Saraswati puja for children, and start new ventures on Vijaya Dasami muhurat. Kanaka Durga Temple in Vijayawada hosts one of India's grandest Dasara celebrations with daily alankarams. Ayudha Puja sanctifies tools, vehicles, and books; Vidyarambham initiates toddlers into learning.

Deepavali (Diwali) celebrates the victory of light over darkness on Amavasya of Kartika masam. Telugu and Telangana families perform Lakshmi Ganesh puja in the evening, light diyas and fireworks, draw rangoli, and exchange sweets. Merchants worship new account books (Chopda Pujan). Pandits are in peak demand for evening muhurat puja across Hyderabad, Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, and Tirupati. The day before, Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) involves early oil bath and cleansing rituals.

Sadar (Dunnapothula Panduga) is Telangana's state-recognised festival celebrated on the day after Deepavali, when the Yadav community parades decorated buffalo bulls through villages and towns. The bulls — dunnapothu — are adorned with colourful cloth, bells, and garlands while Pothuraju dancers and drummers lead processions. Hyderabad Old City, Karimnagar, and rural Telangana host the largest gatherings. Families schedule community feasts and home puja around this post-Deepavali season.