Telugu Calendar 2026 తెలుగు క్యాలెండర్ ౨౦౨౬

Sankranti (Jan 15) is the biggest festival in Telugu culture — a 4-day harvest celebration (Bhogi/Sankranti/Kanuma/Mukkanuma). The Bhogi bonfire (night of Jan 14) burns old items. On Sankranti morning, women draw elaborate Muggulu (rangoli with rice powder) and place Gobbemma (cow dung balls with marigold) before the threshold. Kite festivals fill Hyderabad skies.

February is marked by the Yadadri Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Brahmotsavam (Feb 18–28) — the grandest festival at Telangana's most sacred Vishnu shrine. The newly renovated Yadadri Bhuvaneswari temple (completed 2022) attracts millions. The Garuda Vahana Seva (Feb 24) and Tirukalyanam (Feb 25) are the peak attendance days.

Ugadi (March 19) — Telugu New Year, Parabhava Nama Samvatsaram begins. The Panchanga Sravanam at Tirupati and major temples draws thousands. Every Telugu home prepares Ugadi Pachadi. The Vasanta Navaratri (spring 9-night festival) begins on Ugadi and runs through Ram Navami (Mar 27), during which the Brahmotsavam at Bhadrachalam Sita Ramachandra Swamy is the most celebrated event in AP.

Yadadri Narasimha Jayanti (Apr 26–29) is the premier Narasimha festival in India. The 5 natural caves at Yadagirigutta hill are each said to house a different form of Lord Narasimha — Jwala, Ugra, Yogananda, Lakshmi and Bhargava Narasimha — making it the only place in India with five simultaneous Narasimha manifestations.

May brings Hanuman Jayanti (May 11) — observed in AP/Telangana on Chaitra Purnima (unlike other states). The Tiruchanur Sri Padmavati Teppotsavam (boat festival, June 25–July 3) preparations begin this month. Vaikunta Ekadashi and Hari Shayanotsavam (Devshayani Ekadashi, July) mark Vishnu entering cosmic sleep for 4 months — the Chaturmas period when Telugu families avoid new beginnings.

The Tiruchanur Teppotsavam (Jun 25–Jul 3) — the float festival of Goddess Padmavati — takes place on Tamara (Lotus) Theertham lake near Tirupati. Padmavati, consort of Venkateswara, is decorated on illuminated boats with thousands of devotees watching from the lake banks. This is the most visually spectacular festival in the Tirupati-Tirumala complex.

July begins the sacred Chaturmas period. Guru Purnima (Jul 9) marks the day disciples visit gurus — widely celebrated at Tirupati, Yadagirigutta, and Bhadrachalam. The Jagannath Rathyatra (Jul 16) is observed in Jagannath temples across Andhra Pradesh. Telugu farmers begin Kharif sowing aligned with the monsoon onset.

Varalakshmi Vratam (Aug 16) is one of the most significant women's festivals in Telugu culture — married women perform elaborate Lakshmi puja for the health and prosperity of their families. The following day, Vinayaka Chaturthi (Aug 17) is celebrated grandly across Hyderabad and Vijayawada with 10-day public Ganesh installations. Hyderabad's Ganesh immersion on day 11 is one of India's largest processions.

October brings the Tirumala Navaratri Brahmotsavam (Oct 12–20) — Goddess Alamelumanga (Padmavati, consort of Venkateswara) is worshipped in nine forms across nine nights. Saraswati Pooja (Oct 17) is observed in AP/Telangana by students placing books and instruments before the goddess. Vijayadasami (Oct 20) is the day Vidyarambha — children begin formal education — is observed across Telugu households.

Karthika Masam (Nov) is the holiest month for Shaivites in Telugu tradition — devotees light oil lamps (Karthika Deepalu) at Shiva temples every day for 30 days. Karthika Purnima sees thousands float lamp-boats on rivers and temple tanks across AP and Telangana. The Kasi Viswanatha temples in Vijayawada and Warangal see peak attendance. Deepavali (Nov 10) is celebrated with Naraka Chaturdasi as the main ritual day in AP/Telangana.

Margazhi (December in Tamil / Margashira in Telugu) is sacred to Vaishnava tradition — Andamayya's Muggulu drawings and the recitation of Andal's Tiruppavai begin December 15 at Tirumala and major Venkateswara temples. Vaikunta Ekadashi (December 17) is the most important single day for Vaishnavas — the Vaikunta Dwara (Gate to Heaven) is said to open, and lakhs queue for Tirumala darshan. Waiting times can exceed 36 hours.