Festivals

Dwaraka Tirumala Temple — Snake / poisonous-snake scare On October 30 2025, at the Chinna Venkanna shrine at Dwaraka Tirumala (in Eluru district), there were reports of poisonous snakes (trachupāmu/pit-vipers) being found in the temple premises and adjacent animal shelter. A couple of cows died apparently after snake-bites.  The issue has caused concern among devotees and temple authorities, who say the surrounding grass and grazing animals might be attracting snakes.  Tip: If you plan to visit this temple, especially early morning or in less-lit areas, be cautious of stray animals/grass and avoid venturing into less maintained parts of the premises after dark.

Ganganamma Jathara in Eluru The long-duration Ganganamma Jathara in Eluru is reported to commence, run for multiple months, and include processions and devotion in the city.  Why in this list: A traditional local festival in Eluru city with strong cultural significance.

Local Children’s Festival – Balotsav in Eluru On Jan 25 2025, a big children’s festival (Balotsav) was held in Eluru, with school children, cultural competitions and much fanfare.  Why in this list: A festival-style event involving children, cultural showcases within Eluru city.

Festival Celebrations – Vinayaka Chavithi (Ganesh Chaturthi) in Eluru Huge festive fervour in Eluru as Vinayaka Chavithi (Ganesh festival) unfolds, showing elaborate statues, processions and immersions.  For example, the creation/installation of a 42-foot-tall Ganesh idol is reported in Eluru during the festival year.  Why in this list: A major culturally-rooted city-festival with strong public participation.

Temple Closure for Lunar Eclipse On Sept 7-8 2025, many temples in Andhra Pradesh — including those in Eluru district — were scheduled to remain closed from ~3:30 pm during the lunar eclipse (Kavata Bandhana).  Ritual-adjustments: e.g., no Aarti during those hours, doors reopening at 3:00 am next day.  Why this counts: The closure and subsequent opening of temples around such a cosmic event are part of the ritual calendar and affect festival/temple-community life in Eluru.