Relgions in India

India is the cradle for diverse religions and a plethora of cultures. Owing to the vastness of the country and a multitude of religions, there will be a festival taking place every day of the year in some corner lof the country.The major religions of India ,Hinduism , Islam. Sikhism and Christianity all celebrate their festivals with religious fervour.

There are festivals unique to a particular place or a region. For example Onam is celebrated in Only Kerala.Ugadi is celebrated in Andhra pradesh only.

And the festivals pertaining to Islam. Sikhism and Christianity are celebrated through out the country irrespective of the regions they live in.

There are festivals which are universal.They are celebrated in the entire country. For example Diwali or Deepavali is celebrated from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. Similarly Dasara.

When it comes to festivals , the southern state of  Andhra pradesh bears its own mark and own niche of its own with respect to religious fervour and gait.

Festivals

Festvals are not just occasions for revelry and merry making. Each festival has  a story with a message.
Each festival has a tag of astrlogical significance.
Each festival is a reminder to renew relationships and bonds.
Each festival reminds the culture we are entwined with
Each festival offers a breather for a break from the hectic grind to recharge the spent energy for a fresh start with renewed vigor
Festivals, be it a 'Tourism Festival' or Local colourful festivals,are big revenue generators. Festivals and Fairs of India, always generated an awe in the in them domestic viewers well as foreign tourists.

Colourful Culture, Andhra

Andhra's cultural history is replete with examples of highest standards of excellence in the spheres of Art, Architecture, literature and its veritable cuisine.

Speciality of a Festival

A festival of any religion or region will reflect all the cultural aspects of that region in different sizes and proportions. In this respect Andhra iis not an exception. Every festival of Andhra will reflect a vivid picture of all the aspects of its culture.

Ugadi

The festive season in Andhra Pradesh starts with UGADI. UGADI means, the beginning of an era or Epoch. Its also known as "Samvastaradi" , means beginning of the year.
This is the New year for Telugus, Kannadigas,Maharashtrians, Konkani. It falls on the day of " Chaitra Shuddha Padyami in the months between March and April.Its the belief of the people, whatever is done on this day, that will be reflected all through the year. Owing to this reason people especially business people start their ventures on this day as UGADI is considered as an auspicious day.

Panchanga Sravanam

The first item of the day of Ugadi is recitation of Panchangam or  Almanac. Its a social gathhering where an elderly person of the communuty or a Purohit will read the Panchangam which is all about the general forecasting of the year that follows.

Message of Ugadi 

Ugadi festival conveys the message that life is a mixture of several experiences like sadness , joy, anger, surprise, disgust etc. It should be taken as it comes to us. This message is conveyed through eating a preparation made of six tastes of life," Shadruchulu". The preparation is made of neem buds symbolizing sadness, Jaggery and ripe bananas symbolizing happiness,Green chillies symbolizing anger,Salt signifying fear,sour tamarind juice symbolizing disgust and green mango symbolizing surprise.

Bobbatlu

Bobbatlu is a delicacy specially made for the occasion of Ugadi. Its a stuffed Parotha like thing. But the paste  made of jaggery and  gram is stuffed into the parotha.

Makara Sankranti

It comes in the month of January. Its a harvest festival and marks the beginning of  the harvest season and ending of north east monsoon of South India. When the Sun moves from one Zodiac sign to another that moment is called Sankranti. Here the Sun moves in to capricorn , which is called Makar, the occasion is called Makara Sankranti.Hindu festivals will not occur on a fixed day every year. But Sankranti is an exception. It falls on the same day January 14 or Januaryn15 if its a leap year.
Sankranti marks the ending of the winter season and the beginning of a new harvest season.

Different Names- One festival

Though Sankranti is celebrated all over India, it's known with different names in different states and regions. Here are the names Of Sankranti as known in different parts of India
In the state of Gujrat and Rajasthan  Sankranti is known as Uttarayan.
In Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab Makar Sankranti is known as Maghi.
In Punjab, its known as Lohri.
In the state of Tamilnadu, its known as Pongal.
In Uttar Pradesh, its known as Khichidi.
In the Assam valley Makar Sankranti is known as Bhogali Bihu.

Some Legends

Shani the Son of the Sun god  is the lord of the Makar Rasi. It's said the Sun God visits Shani , his son and stays for a month there.Owing to this reason Makar Sankranti has been given a special importance in the Hindu Puranas. It was on this day, Lord Vishnu ended the demons annihilating them.The bodies of the killed demons were buried under Mandara Parvata. Hence this occasion has gained importance as the ultimate trumph of good over evi. On this very day of Sankranti Bhishma decided to leave his mortal remains. He was blessed with the power of dying at his own will. This power is known as "Ichcha Mrityu."

Rituals and festivals connected with Makar Sankrnti.

In GujratSankranti is celebrted with pomp and splendour through a major and colourful event of Kite flying. Kite flying implies ba symbolic reaching of the Sun God.
In Andhra Pradessh, Sankranti is marked by both kite flying and cock fights. Many of the devotees take a dip in the sea known as "Pavitra Snan" or the holy dip. Many people take bath in Ganga sagar, where ganga merges with Bay of Bengal.
Its a bit different in Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh celebrates Makar Sankranti for 4 days. Each day with a different name.

The first day is known as Bhogi
The second day is known as "Pedda Panduga" or the big festival
The third day is known as Kanuma
 The fourth day is known as Mukkanuma
On the first day Bhogi, all old things and unused things like clothes, broken or unused furniture is gathered and made a big Bonfire in the middle of the streets nearby in the morning. This ritual of burning the old things in the fire is symbolic of leaving and discarding all the badness in the humans and putting an end to bad things.

Rama Navami

The marriage cerenony of Rama and Sita is celebrated every year in Bhadrachalam during March-April. The marriage is performed between the statues of Rama and Sita with all the pomp and splendour anidst the chantings of Vedic hymns and the auspcious music known as 'MangalaVadyam." The wedding event is attended by thousands of  the general public as well as the chiefMinister of AndhraPradesh and its cabinet members.
Celebrations of Rama Navami are dedicated to Rama for remembering him as the most supreme ruler whose aim was only "Praja Kalyanam" or the wefare of his subjects. Due to this reason Rama's regime has become famous as the "Rama Rajjyam" or the regime of Rama as the synonym for the "Best Rule.' Rama Rajya  spells a reign of Peace and prosperity with  exalted standards of high moral values.
Sri Rama Navami festivities begin with the prayer of the Surya Deva, the Sun god on the early hours of the morning.

Dasara

Also known as Vijaya Dasami or Navaratri is another important festival of Andhra Pradesh. Dasara is celebrated for 10 days signifying as a mark of victory of Good over evil. On this day. Mahishasura a demon was killed by the shakti incarnation Durga. Owing to this reason Goddess Durga has become famous with the name "Mahishasura Mardhini",the annhilator of the demon Mahishasura.
Goddess Durga is worshiped in different forms on all the days of celebrations of Navaratri. On the last day, Durga is worshipped as Mahishasura Mardhini.
Dasara celebrations are performed in a most glittering way in Kanaka Durga trmple in Vijatawada atop a hill.

Deepavali

The festival of lights is celebrayed as a symbol of triumph of good over evil. On this day, the business community wraps up its records and start new account books. Some celebrate it as lakshmi puja, the worship of  Goddess of prosperity.Like all other festivals new clothes are worn by both youngsters and elders. This colourful day is marked with burning of crackers.

Vinayaka Chaviti

Also known as  Ganesh Chaturti which comes in the monrth of "Bhadrapadam". Vinayaka is well known as the 'Obstacle remover'.Owing to this reason, people believe that performing Vinayaka puja before starting a job will lead to smooth movement sans problems.
 Environmental concerns
The Vinayaka idols are made of clay once, But Plaster of Paris has come into vogue of late, bacause of  its cost effectiveness and easy mouldability quality. But Plaster of Paris is non- biodegradable and insoluble in water. In addition to this, the chemicals in the colours used for painting the Ganesha idols lke cadmium and Mercury cause water pollution during immersion of the idols of Ganesha.
Now the stress is on making the idols small with natural clay.Or making a permanent image made of Stone or brass  and making the immersion ceremony symbolic.

History

Since the times of Shivaji, the founder of Maratha empire, celebrating Ganesh puja as a public function was in practice. Ganesha was the family deity of the Peshwas. It was under their patronage till 1818. Now Ganesha lost the elite patronage. Private patronage has come into vogue. After many years, the great freedom fighter and social reformer Lokamanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak revived by making the domestic function in to a public function.

Batukamma

This is an exclusuve festival observed by the women of Telengana region. Batukamma is a festival that coincides with Navaratri and is celebrated for nine days. It starts on Mahalaya and concludes two days before Dasara.The final day of the Batukamma Panduga is known as "Pedda Batukamma" or "Saddula Batukamma."

What is Batukamma 

Batukamma is a flower arrangement in the form of a cone in 7 layers one above the other. The flowers are seasonal flowers. Women wear colourful Pattu Saris and jewelry for this occasion. On the first five days, Batyukamma is prepared wth cow dung and kept in front of the house. Around the Batukammas beautiful "Muggus"  or Rangoli are drawn with rice powder.

Its all singing and dancing

As Batukamma festival or Batukamma Pandaga as called in Telugu is a woman centered festival, all the women in the localty gather in the evening with their beautifully made Batukammas and keei them in a central place. Women form a circle arond the batukannas and start singing and clapping  wiith a precise rhythm and moving in a circular pattern. Sll the songs belong to the folk genre.
After the song and dance session women with their Batukammas go to a nearby pond or a lake and leave Batukammas afloat in the water The ninth and last day of the festival is known as Saddula Batukamma and on this day, it will be a treat to the eye to watch all the  Batukammas floating on the waters of lakes and ponds.

Bonalu

Its a festival of the goddess Maha Kali, observed in Telengana regions of Andhra Pradesh. Bonalu is celebrated in the month of Ashadam in July/ August. Special poojas are performed to the goddess Yellamma. Bonalu is also known as Thanks givimg function to the goddess for bestowing boons on her devotees.The other name with which Bonalu festival is known as is"Mahankali Jatra". During this period one cannot miss processions of women walking towards temples of Kali with pots piled over their heads. The pots arer called  'Bonalu." these are filled with water with neem leaves and turmeric powder .These are topped with rice in a copper pot( or earthen pot). Of course with a lighted oil lamp.
Earlier there was a practice of offering animal sacrifices. Presently this practice has given way to just rice and white gourd are offerd to Mahankali goddess.

The State of Andhra Pradesh  generates a good amount of Revenue through its rich cultural heritage, Historical places and a bounty of natural beauty. It also orgnizes a number of "Tourism Festivals." Here are some prominent festivals.

Tourism Festivals

• International Kite Festval  at Hyderabad
• Kakatiya Festival at Warangal
• All India Arts and Crafts festival at Shilparamam, Hyderabad
• Deccan Festival /Hyderabad Festival at Qutb Shahi Tombs, Hyderabad.
• Lumbini Festival at Hyderabad /Nagarjuna Sagar
• Rayalaseema Food and Dance Festival at Tirupati.
• The Vijayanagara Festival at Chandragiri
• All India Girijan Festival and Artist's Camp at Araku and Borra Caves.
• Visakha Utsav and Rushikonda Beach Festival at Visakhapatnam.