Telugu Deepavali 2026: Traditions in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, from Naraka Chaturdashi to Bhagini Hasta Bhojanam

Quick answer: Telugu Deepavali 2026 falls on Sunday 8 November (Drik Panchang). In Andhra Pradesh and Telangana the day begins before dawn with the Naraka Chaturdashi oil bath, remembering how Krishna and Satyabhama defeated Narakasura, and ends with Lakshmi puja on Amavasya evening, rows of clay lamps (pramidalu) and crackers. Many families also observe Kedareswara vratam. The Lakshmi puja muhurat for Hyderabad is 6:08 PM to 8:09 PM (calculated, HinduTone, Drik method).

Telugu families in the USA have slightly different dates: Naraka Chaturdashi on Saturday 7 November and Deepavali on Sunday 8 November. Details below.

Telugu Deepavali 2026 dates

Source: Drik Panchang. Because Naraka Chaturdashi and Deepavali share Sunday 8 November in India this year, Telugu homes will have the oil bath and the Lakshmi puja on the same day.

Naraka Chaturdashi: the biggest morning in Telugu homes

For many Telugu families, Naraka Chaturdashi is as important as Deepavali itself. Before sunrise, elders apply warm sesame oil to everyone's head and body, followed by a bath with hot water and often shikakai or a herbal paste. This abhyanga snanam is treated as a purifying bath, and new clothes are worn afterwards. Many households light lamps at the door and the tulasi before dawn.

Satyabhama and Narakasura, as traditionally told

Narakasura, the son of Bhudevi (Mother Earth), became a tyrant who troubled the gods and held thousands of people captive. Krishna went to fight him with Satyabhama beside him on Garuda. In the telling popular in Telugu homes, when Krishna was struck and fell for a moment, Satyabhama took up the bow and defeated Narakasura herself. In many versions Satyabhama is herself seen as a form of Bhudevi, which gives the story its special meaning: the mother ends the cruelty of her own son. Before dying, Narakasura asked that the day be remembered with lights and celebration.

Satyabhama is a beloved figure in Telugu culture, from household stories to Bhama Kalapam, the famous Kuchipudi dance-drama centred on her. Read the full story in the story of Narakasura and Krishna.

Deepavali Amavasya: Lakshmi puja and pramidalu

On Amavasya evening, the house is cleaned, muggulu (rangoli) are drawn at the entrance, and Lakshmi puja is performed, often with Ganapati first. Afterwards, families light rows of pramidalu, small clay lamps, along the entrance, windows, compound walls and the tulasi kota. In many homes, lamps are also placed near the well or water tank and in the cattle shed in rural areas.

More cities: Lakshmi Puja muhurat 2026 India city-wise and Diwali 2026 date and Lakshmi Puja muhurat. Steps for the puja: Lakshmi Puja vidhi 2026.

Crackers after the puja

Once the lamps are lit, the evening turns to crackers: sparklers (chichubuddulu), flowerpots, ground chakras and rockets are a big part of Telugu Deepavali, especially for children. In many villages there is also a children's custom of waving lit sticks while singing a short Deepavali song, though practices differ from place to place.

Both state governments and city police usually announce cracker timings and rules before Deepavali, including restrictions on noise and on bursting near hospitals. Check the current year's announcements, and see Diwali 2026 crackers guidelines for Hyderabad and the Telugu states and Diwali cracker safety precautions.

Kedareswara vratam (nomu)

Many Telugu families, especially women, observe Kedareswara vratam around Deepavali, often on Amavasya, worshipping Lord Shiva as Kedareswara. Common elements include a fast until the puja, a sacred thread with knots tied after worship, and offerings prepared at home. Some families observe it every year as a family nomu passed down the generations; others do not observe it at all. Exact procedures, the number of knots and the day chosen vary, so follow your elders or family purohit.

The closely related South Indian observance is described in Kedar Gauri vrat 2026: Deepavali nombu, which falls on Sunday 8 November 2026.

Bali Padyami and Govardhan Puja

The day after Amavasya is Kartika Shukla Pratipada, observed as Govardhan Puja in North India and as Bali Padyami in Karnataka and in some Telugu households, remembering the generous king Bali Chakravarti, whom Vishnu as Vamana sent to the netherworld and who, as traditionally told, returns to visit his people on this day. In India this falls on Tuesday 10 November 2026. Read the legend of Bali Raja and Diwali in South India.

Deepavali Amavasya also marks the end of the lunar month in the Telugu calendar, so Karthika Masam begins right after it: a month of early baths, lamps at temples and in homes, and Monday worship of Shiva. Karthika Pournami falls on Tuesday 24 November 2026 (Drik Panchang). Nagula Chavithi, the worship of serpent deities at anthills, also falls early in Karthika.

Bhagini Hasta Bhojanam

Two days after Amavasya, on Yama Dwitiya, many Telugu families observe Bhagini Hasta Bhojanam: brothers visit their sisters and eat a meal cooked and served by them, and sisters receive gifts. It shares its story with Bhai Dooj, Yamuna welcoming her brother Yama. In India this is Wednesday 11 November 2026. See Bhai Dooj 2026: date, story and tika vidhi.

Telugu Deepavali sweets and snacks

• Ariselu: rice flour and jaggery discs fried and pressed, a festival classic in coastal Andhra.
• Kajjikayalu: crescent pastries filled with coconut, jaggery or sugar and dry fruit.
• Sunnundalu: roasted urad dal and jaggery laddus.
• Chakkilalu (murukulu) and gavvalu: savoury and sweet crunchy snacks made days ahead.
• Boondi laddu and payasam for the puja naivedyam.

Recipes: Telugu Deepavali recipes: ariselu and kajjikayalu and 35 traditional Diwali sweets, snacks and festive dishes.

Deepavali in Hyderabad

Hyderabad celebrates on a big scale: markets fill with lamps, lanterns and sweets in the week before, apartment communities organise lighting and cracker evenings, and temples across the city hold special Lakshmi pujas. Around the festival, Hyderabad's Yadav community also holds its Sadar celebrations with decorated buffaloes, a distinctive city tradition; check local announcements for details. See Diwali 2026 in Hyderabad.

For Telugu NRIs in the USA

Large Telugu communities in Dallas, the San Francisco Bay Area, New Jersey, Atlanta, Houston and Chicago keep these traditions alive. Per Drik Panchang, Naraka Chaturdashi is Saturday 7 November in the USA, so the oil bath falls on Saturday morning, and Lakshmi puja is on Sunday 8 November. Local muhurat examples (each in local time):

• Never convert Hyderabad's muhurat to US time; use your own city's local times.
• Bhagini Hasta Bhojanam (Bhai Dooj) is Tuesday 10 November in the USA, a weekday, so many families move the family meal to the weekend.
• In apartments, keep pramidalu on metal trays away from smoke detectors, or use LED lamps; follow local fireworks laws.
• Telugu associations and temples often hold Deepavali events; check their own announcements for dates.
• All US cities: Diwali 2026 in the USA: Lakshmi Puja muhurat city by city.

Frequently asked questions

When is Deepavali 2026 in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana?

Deepavali falls on Sunday 8 November 2026 in India, per Drik Panchang. Naraka Chaturdashi falls on the same day: the oil bath is in the early morning and Lakshmi puja in the evening. Dhanteras (Dhana Trayodashi) is Friday 6 November.

What is the Lakshmi puja time in Hyderabad on Deepavali 2026?

The HinduTone calculator (Drik method) gives 6:08 PM to 8:09 PM for Hyderabad on Sunday 8 November 2026. Calculated times for Vijayawada (6:01 PM to 8:02 PM) and Visakhapatnam (5:48 PM to 7:49 PM) are similar. Confirm with your family purohit or on Drik Panchang.

Why is Satyabhama important in Telugu Deepavali?

In the Narakasura story as traditionally told in many Telugu homes, Satyabhama fights alongside Krishna and herself defeats Narakasura. Satyabhama is a much-loved figure in Telugu culture, also celebrated in the Kuchipudi dance-drama Bhama Kalapam.

What is Kedareswara vratam?

It is a vow to Lord Shiva as Kedareswara that many Telugu families observe around Deepavali, often on Amavasya, with a sacred thread and offerings. Practices vary between families, so follow your elders. For the closely related South Indian vrat, see our Kedar Gauri vrat 2026 page.

Which dates should Telugu families in the USA follow?

Drik Panchang lists Dhanteras on Friday 6 November, Naraka Chaturdashi on Saturday 7 November, Deepavali on Sunday 8 November, Govardhan Puja on Monday 9 November and Bhai Dooj on Tuesday 10 November in the USA. Use your own city's local muhurat, not India's times.

Editor's note (8 October 2026)

This guide describes widely followed Telugu customs; practices differ between districts, communities and families, especially for Kedareswara vratam and Bali Padyami, and we have avoided presenting any one version as the rule. Stories are given as traditionally told. Festival dates follow Drik Panchang. Muhurat times marked calculated come from the HinduTone calculator (Drik method) and should be confirmed locally.

Related guides

• Diwali / Deepavali 2026: complete 5-day guide
• How to celebrate Diwali at home in 2026: a day-by-day plan
• Diwali 2026 for women: Lakshmi Puja and traditions
• Diwali 2026 greetings in Hindi, English and Telugu
• Tamil Deepavali recipes: murukku and adhirasam
• November 2026 Hindu festival calendar