Top 15 Telangana's Famous Fairs & Festivals in 2023

Telangana has a distinct culture and is a separate state from the former Andhra Pradesh. Telangana's festivals are distinguished by well-defined rituals, legends, veritable customs, and vibrant colours. As a result, Telangana's calendar is a multi-hued tapestry of celebrations, with countless festivals and fairs.

1. Bathukamma Festival

Bathukamma festival is a festival of colourful flowers that is celebrated before the onset of winter during the half monsoon season. It is a 9-day festival that begins on Mahalaya Amavasya with Engili Pula Bathukamma and ends on Durgashtami with Saddula Bathukamma. Bathukamma is attractively decorated during these nine days by placing various types of flowers in cone shapes on wide plates and offering various types of food items (naivedyam). Then, dressed in traditional costumes, women and children identify the Bathukamma in the centre and sing songs while moving around it, rhythmically clapping their hands. Finally, the Bathukamma is immersed in water. The reason for this celebration is that the flowers can naturally cleanse the rivers and lakes.

2. Bonalu Festival

Bonalu is a Telugu regional festival celebrated in the twin cities of Secunderabad and Hyderabad, as well as other parts of the state, during the Telugu month of Ashada (July or August). Women prepare Bonam (brass pots) filled with milk, jaggery, and cooked rice for Mahakali Amma during this festival and perform special pujas for her. The pot is decorated with turmeric, neem leaves, and kumkum and is carried on their heads as a gift to the Goddess. On the first Sunday, the Bonalu celebrations begin at the Golconda fort, and on the second Sunday, at the Ujjaini Mahakali Temple in Secunderabad and the Balkampet Yellamma temple in Balkampet.

3. Dussehra

Dussehra (Dasara), also known as Navratri in Telangana, is a Hindu festival celebrated throughout India. The festival lasts ten days, with each day honouring a different avatar of the Goddess, such as Bala Tripura Sundari, Gayatri, Annapurna, Kamakshi, Lalitha, Lakshmi, Saraswathi, Durga, and Raja Rajeswari. Durgastami is the eighth day of the Hindu calendar. On Mahanavami, the ninth day of Navaratri, ayudhapuja is performed, during which people pray to all the instruments in their lives. The Goddess is dressed as Maa Durga on Vijayadasami, the tenth day of Dasara.

4. Ganesh Chaturthi

Although Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated with great enthusiasm throughout India, Telangana's Ganesh Chaturthi has its own distinct charm. This festival commemorates Lord Ganesha's birth, and devotees perform pooja with various leaves and flowers with great devotion. On the third, fifth, and ninth days, several pandals across the state host the idols immersed in water. Several dishes that are considered Ganesha's favourites, such as Undrallu and Modaka, are prepared.

5. Holi

Holi is another festival that is celebrated throughout the country and is enjoyed by both children and adults. It is a joyous festival in which people of all faiths let down their guard and enjoy themselves. Because of the love story between Radha and Krishna, a tradition of throwing bright colours has emerged. Holi in Telangana brings people together for a fun-filled celebration.

6. Makar Sankranti

Sankranthi is a harvest festival celebrated in Telangana with great fanfare. This festival lasts three days: the first is Bhogi, the second is Sankranthi, and the third is Kanuma. On Bhogi, people burn old things to purge themselves of negativity. The front yards of the houses are adorned with colourful rangolis and gobbemma (dung balls). People dress in new clothes and greet one another, paying homage to the harvest. Furthermore, the Telangana government hosts an international kite festival along the necklace road on the banks of Hussain Sagar Lake.

7. Ugadi

According to the Hindu lunisolar calendar, the Ugadi or Yugadi festival in Telangana marks the Telugu new year. It is also known as Samvatsaradi, which means the start of a new year. During this festival, people make Ugadipachadi (pickle), which combines six flavours: spice, sweet, and two types of sour, bitter, and salt. This pickle represents the way life is, and we should be strong in both happiness and adversity.

8. Ramzan

Ramzan is celebrated with great zeal and enthusiasm in Telangana. It is observed according to the Islamic calendar, based on the visibility of the moon. Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset, abstaining from all food and drink, including water. Instead, Muslims eat suhur, a pre-fast meal, before sunrise. Halim is a special dish available during the holy month of Ramzan.

9. Peerla Panduga

Muharram, also known as Peerla Panduga in Telangana, is an important festival for Muslims. During this festival, people march in procession while chanting YaHussain, representing a group of Sufi Shrines. Peerla Panduga is a time of great sorrow for Muslims who are mourning the death of Imam Hussein.

10. Chittaramma Jatara

ChittarammaJatara is celebrated in the temple of the same name in GajulaRamaram village in Hyderabad, and it is one of the state's most famous festivals. It is observed during the PushyaMasam, according to the Telugu calendar. Chittaramma is the Gajularamaram village's grama devata, or local Goddess. Over three lakh devotees come from all over the state to offer their prayers at this temple.

11. Sadar Festival

The Hyderabad Yadav community enthusiastically celebrates Telangana's Sadar festival. It falls on the second day of Deepawali and is also known as Dunnapothula Panduga. Buffalo owners celebrate this festival with zeal. First, the most robust buffalo is paraded and later rewarded, which is chosen by the Yadav family's head. Following that, all of the buffaloes are beautifully decorated and paraded through the streets of Hyderabad while repeating the chants Wah Wah Yadav.

12. Numaish

Numaish, also known as Numaish Masnuat-e-Mulki, is an annual consumer exhibition held in Hyderabad, Telangana. The permanent venue for this Exhibition is in Nampally, and it is the only one of its kind in the world, lasting 46 days and attracting tens of thousands of visitors in a single day. Products from all over India are on display at this exhibition. It also offers entertainment and food to visitors who come to shop.

13. Komuravelli Mallanna Jatara

Komuravelli Mallikarjuna Swamy Jatara is celebrated in the Komuravelli village of Siddipet district at the temple of the same name. This Jatara is observed during Maha Shivaratri, and devotees offer prayers to Lord Shiva. The drawing of a special rangoli in front of the temple balcony by the Oggu Pujari group is another attraction of the Mela. This Jatara attracts at least 10,000 people from all over Telangana.

14. Kurumurthy Swamy Jatara

Kurumurthy Swamy Jatara is a seven-day festival celebrated by the people of Telangana in November. Sri Kurumurthy Swamy temple is considered the Tirupathi of the poor, and many devotees visit this Jatara to offer prayers and darshan of Lord Vishnu's deity. The Sri Vari Uddava Seva is an important part of the Brahmotsavalau celebration, in which the Lord's footwear is presented to the Kurumurthy Swamy in a procession attended by thousands of devotees.

15. Edupayala Jatara

Nagsanpalli is a small region in Medak district that comes to life every year during Shivaratri with the celebration of the EdupulapayaJatara. The name derives from the confluence of seven rivers of the Manjeerariver and has acquired religious significance over time. Devotees from all over Telangana come to atone for their sins and pay their respects to the deities, and the shrine attracts nearly five lakh pilgrims. People sacrifice chickens and sheep to appease the Goddess and request that their wishes be granted. Because the majority of devotees spend at least one night in this location, this Jatara becomes even more special.