Culture
of Telangana
The Telangana culture is a mixture of Telugu traditions
and Persian traditions from the Mughals and Nizams.
Telangana State has long been a meeting place for diverse languages
and cultures and often called as South of North and North of South It is also
known for its Ganga-Jamuna Tehzeeb and the capital Hyderabad as a miniature
India.
Languages : About 76% of
the population of Telangana speak Telugu, 12% speak Urdu , and 12% speak other languages.
Before 1948, Urdu was the official language of Hyderabad State, and due to a
lack of Telugu-language educational institutions, Urdu was the language of the educated
elite of Telangana. After 1948, once Hyderabad State joined the new Republic of
India, Telugu became the language of government, and as Telugu was introduced
as the medium of instruction in schools and colleges, the use of Urdu among
non-Muslims decreased.
Festivals : Festivals are celebrated with much fervor
and people used to go to temples on these days to offer special prayers. Some
of the Festivals are Eid ul fitr , Bakr Eid , Ugadi , Dasara , Makara Sankranti
, Guru Purnima , Sri Rama Navami , Hanumajjayanti or Hanuman Jayanti , Raakhi Pournami,
Vinayaka Chaviti , Nagula Panchami, Krishnashtami , Deepavali ,Mukkoti Ekadasi,
Karthika Purnima and Ratha Saptami.
Regional Festivals : Bathukamma
flower arrangement Telanganites not only celebrate the main festivals, but also
celebrate certain regional festivals like Bonalu in Hyderabad, Batukamma all over Telangana districts, Yedupayala Jatara
in Medak, Sammakka Saralamma in Warangal district.
Literature : Muhammad Quli
Qutb Shah was the first Saheb- e-dewan Urdu . Other poets of Telangana from the
early era include Kancherla Gopanna or Bhakta Ramadasu, Gona Budda Reddy, Palkuriki
Somanatha, Mallinātha Sūri , and Hulukki Bhaskara. In the modern era poets include
such figures as Padma Vibhushan , Kaloji Narayana Rao , Sahitya Akademi Award
recipient Daasarathi Krishnamacharyulu , Vachaspathi Puraskar award recipient
Sribhashyam Vijayasarathi, and Jnanpith Award recipient C. Narayana Reddy, as
well as P. V. Narasimha Rao , ninth prime minister of India. Samala Sadasiva
was selected for the Kendra Sahitya Puraskaram distinction. His book
Swaralayalu on the subject of Hindustani classical music won the award for the
year 2011.
Clothing : A Portrait of
girl standing in a veranda wearing a Pochampally saree, 1895, by Hermann Linde Telangana
is the home to some of the finest historical cloth making/fashion and dying traditions
of the world. Its rich cotton production, with its innovative plant dye extraction
history stand next to its diamond mining. Traditional Women wear sari in the
most parts of the state. Langa Voni , Shalwar kameez and Churidaar is popular
among the Unmarried Women. Some of the famous sarees made in Telangana are
Pochampally Saree , Gadwal sari.Pochampally sarees have been popular since
early 1800s. In 19th century popular with traders in the silk route which
symbolised luxury and power. Found place in UNESCO tentative list of world
heritage sites as part of 'iconic saree weaving clusters of India'.Pochampally
saree received Intellectual Property Rights Protection or Geographical Indication
(GI) status in 2005. Male Clothing includes the traditional Dhoti also known as
Pancha .The Hyderabadi Sherwani was the dress of choice of the Nizam of
Hyderabad and Hyderabadi nobles. The Hyderabadi sherwani is longer than normal
sherwani reaching below the knees. Sherwani is usually worn during the wedding
ceremonies by the groom. A scarf called a dupatta is sometimes added to the sherwani.
Hyderabadi Biryani : Telangana
has two types of cuisines, the Telugu cuisine and Hyderabadi cuisine. Telugu
cuisine is the part of South Indian cuisine characterized by their highly spicy
food.The Telangana state lies on the Deccan plateau and its topography dictates
more millet and roti (leavened bread) based dishes. Jowar and Bajra features
more prominently in their cuisine. Due to its proximity with Maharashtra ,
Chhattisgarh and northwest Karnataka, it shares some similarities of the Deccan
plateau cuisine. The region has the spiciest food amongst all other Telugu and Indian
cuisines. Telangana has some unique dishes in its cuisine, such as jonna rotte
(sorghum), sajja rotte (penisetum), or Uppudi Pindi (broken rice). In Telangana
a gravy or curry is called Koora and Pulusu (Sour) in based on Tamarind. A deep
fry reduction of the same is called Vepudu . Kodi pulusu and Mamsam (meat) vepudu are popular dishes
in meat. Vankaya Brinjal Pulusu
or Vepudu , Arintikaya Banana pulusu or Vepudu are one of the many
varieties of vegetable dishes. Telangana palakoora is a spinach dish cooked
with lentils eaten with steamed rice and rotis. Peanuts are added as special attraction and in Karimnagar
District, cashew nuts are added. Sakinalu also called as Chakinalu, is one of
the most popular savory in Telangana, is often cooked during Makara Sankranti
festival season. This a deep-fried snack
made of rice flour, sesame seeds and flavoured with ajwain (carom seeds or
vaamu in Telugu). These savories are harder and spicier than the Andhra
varieties. Garijelu is a dumpling dish similar to the Maharashtrian
karanji, which in Telangana is cooked with sweet stuffing or a savory
stuffingwith mutton or chicken kheema.
Double ka meetha : Hyderabadi
cuisine, an amalgamation of Persian cuisine , Mughlai, Telugu, Turkish
cuisines, developed by the Qutb Shahi dynasty and the Nizams of Hyderabad . It
comprises a broad repertoire of rice, wheat and meat dishes and various spices
and herbs. Hyderabadi cuisine is an integral part of the cuisines of the former
Hyderabad State that includes the state of Telangana and the regions of
Marathwada (now in Maharashtra) and Hyderabad-Karanataka (now in Karnataka).
The Hyderabadi cuisine contains city specific specialties like Hyderabad (
Hyderabadi biryani and Hyderabadi Haleem ) [17] and Aurangabad ( Naan Qalia),
Gulbarga ( Tahari ), Bidar ( Kalyani Biryani ) and others. The use of dry coconut,
tamarind, and red chillies along with other spices are the main ingredients
that make Hyderabadi cuisine different from the North Indian cuisine.
Religion : The major religions of the people are
Hinduism and Islam, though Buddhism was the dominant religion up to the 6th
century. It is the home of Mahayana Buddhism as revealed by the monuments of
Nagarjunakonda. Acharaya Nagarjuna presided over the World University at Sri
Parvata. Hinduism was revived in the time of the Chalukyas and the Kakatiyas in
the 12th century. The Vijayanagar rule saw the glorious days of
Hinduism when the famed emperors, Krishnadeva Raya in particular, built new temples
and beautified the old ones. Siva, Vishnu, Hanuman and Ganapati have been the popular
Hindu Gods. The Vugra Narasimha swami Temple at Yadagirigutta and Thousand
Pillar Temple at Warangal are among the oldest shrines in the state attracting
people from different parts of the country for hundreds of years. In terms of
influence, Islam occupies the second place. It started spreading from the 14th
century onwards. Mosques began to come up in many parts of the region during
the Muslim rule. Christianity began to spread from 1701, Especially among the
socially disabled people. Educational institutions and churches grew in number
in the Circars in the 18th and 19 centuries when the East India Company and later
the British government encouraged them. Other European countries were also
active in building churches and taking care of the weaker sections of the
people.
Bhadrachalam Temple
Yadagirigutta: Lord Vishnu
(whose reincarnation is Lord Narasimha). The main deity is Lakshmi Narasimha
Swamy. Located in Nalgonda District. In Ancient days Sri Yada Maharshi son of
Sri Rushyashrunga Maharshi with the Blessings of Anjaneya Swamy had performed great
penance for Lord Narasimha Swamy. After securing blessing for his penance Lord Narasimha
had come into existence in Five Avatharas called as Sri Jwala Narasimha, Sri Yogananda
Narasimha, Sri Ugra Narasimha, Sri Gandaberunda Narasimha, Sri Lakshmi Narasimha.
As such this is known as “Pancha Narasimha Kshetram”. Bhadrachalam Temple is a Lord Sree Sita Ramachandra
Swamy Temple in Bhadrachalam , Khammam District. Bhadrachalam-The name derived
from Bhadragiri (Mountain of Bhadra-a boon child of Meru and Menaka). According
to an Ithihasas, the significance of this shrine dates back to the Ramayana
Era. This coherent hill place existed in "Dandakaranya" Of Ramayana period
where Rama with his consort Sita and brother Laxmana had spent their vanavasa-
and Parnashaala(the place connected to the famous Golden Deer and the place
from where Sita was abducted by Ravana.) is also in the vicinity of this temple
site. It is at this Mandir site that, long after Ramavatara, Bhagawan
Mahavishnu manifested Himself as Rama again to fulfil a promise He made to His
Bhakta Bhadra, who continued his Tapas through Yugas, praying for the grace of
the Bhagawan Sri Ramachandra murthy.
Sri Raja Rajeshwara temple,
Vemulawada is a site of pilgrimage for both Hindu (particularly devotees of
Vishnu and Shiva) and Muslim worshippers. Built by Chalukya Kings between AD
750 and 975, the complex is named for its presiding deity Sri Raja Rajeswara
Swamy, an incarnation of Lord Shiva. It houses several temples dedicated to
other deities including Sri Rama, Lakshmana, Lakshmi, Ganapathy, Lord Padmanabha
Swamy and Lord Bhimeshwara.This Shrine is popularly known as ‘Dakshina Kasi’
[Southern Banaras] and also as “Harihara Kshetram” for their being two Vaisnava
Temples in main Temple complex i.e., Sri
Anantha Padmanabha Swamy Temple & Sri Seetharama Chandra Swamy Temple The
complex also contains a 400-year-old mosque which stands as an ample evidence
for religious tolerance .The temple is located in Karimnagar District.
Birla Mandir,Hyderabad:
Built on a 280 feet (85 m) high hillock called Naubath Pahad on a 13 acres
(53,000 m2) plot in Hyderabad.
Gnana Saraswati Temple (Goddess
of Knowledge) is located on the banks of the river Godavari in Adilabad
District
The Church of South India
Cathedral at Medak. It is one of the largest churches in Asia
Mecca Masjid is one of the
oldest mosques in Hyderabad, Telangana in India, And it is one of the largest
Mosques in India. Makkah Masjid is a listed heritage building in the old city
of Hyderabad , close to the historic landmarks of Chowmahalla Palace , Laad
Bazaar , and Charminar . Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah , the fifth ruler of the Qutb
Shahi dynasty , commissioned bricks to be made from the soil brought from Mecca
, the holiest site of Islam , and used them in the construction of the central
arch of the mosque, thus giving the mosque its name. It formed the
centerpiecearound which the city was planned by Muhammad Quli Qutub Shah.
Medak Church at Medak in
Telangana , India , is the largest church in Telangana and has been the
cathedral church of the Diocese of Medak of the Church of South India since
1947. Originally built by British Wesleyan Methodists ,
it was consecrated on 25 December 1924. The Medak diocese is the
single largest diocese in Asia and the second in the world after the Vatican.
The church was built under the stewardship of the Methodist Christian, the Reverend
Charles Walker Posnett, who was driven by the motto My best for my Lord. Charles
Posnett had arrived in Secunderabad in 1895, and after first ministering among
British soldiers at Trimullghery, had launched into the villages and had reached Medak village in 1896.
Dance : Perini Sivatandavam or Perini
Thandavam is an ancient dance form from Telangana which has been revived in
recent times. It originated and prospered in Telangana during the Kakatiya dynasty
. The Perini Thandavam is a dance form usually performed by males. It is called
'Dance of Warriors'. Warriors before leaving to the battlefield enact this
dance before the idol of Lord Siva. The dance form, Perini, reached its pinnacle
during the rule of the 'Kakatiyas' who established their dynasty at Warangal
and ruled for almost two centuries.It is believed that this dance form invokes
'Prerana' (inspiration) and is dedicated to supreme dancer, Lord Siva. Bonalu
The folk festival of Bonalu in the Telangana region brings with it celebrations
which see the colourfully dressed female dancers balancing pots (Bonalu), step
to the rhythmic beats and tunes in praise of the village deity Mahankali. Male
dancers called Potharajus precede the female dancers to the temple lashing
whips and neem leaves adding colour to the festivity.
Music : Telangana has a
diverse variation of Music from Carnatic Music to Folk music . Kancherla
Gopanna , popularly known as Bhakta Ramadasu or Bhadrachala Ramadasu was a
17th-century Indian devotee of Rama and a composer of Carnatic music. He is one
among the famous vaggeyakaras (a person who not only composes the lyrics but
also sets them to music; vāk = word, speech; geya = singing, singable; geyakāra
= singer) in the Telugu language . The folk songs of Telangana had left a
profound impact on the Statehood movement as it played a significant role in
the success of the Dhoom-Dham , a cultural event that was a vital part of the
agitations.
Oggu Katha : Oggu Katha or
Oggukatha is a traditional folklore singing praising and narrating the stories
of Hindu gods Mallana, Beerappa and Yellamma . It originated among the Yadav and
Kuruma Golla communities, who devoted themselves to the singing of ballads in
praise of Lord Shiva (also called Mallikarjuna). These tradition-loving and
ritual-performing community moves from place to place, narrating the stories of
their caste gods. Oggus are the traditional priests of the Yadavas and perform the
marriage of Mallanna with Bhramaramba. The narrator and his chorus i.e. two
narrators- help in dramatizing the narration as very often, they transform
themselves into two characters. The dramatization of the narrative is what
gives the Oggu Katha its predominant place in the ballad tradition in
Telangana, where Oggu Katha prevalent. They singers visit the shrine of Komrelly
Mallanna Temple every year.
Cinema : Telugu cinema,
also known by its sobriquet as Tollywood, is a part of Indian cinema producing films
in the Telugu language , and is centered in the Hyderabad, Telangana
neighbourhood of Film Nagar . The industry holds the Guinness World Record for
the largest film production facility in the world, Ramoji Film City. The Prasads
IMAX located in Hyderabad is one of the largest 3D IMAX screen, and the most attended
cinema screen in the world. As per the CBFC report of 2012, the industry is
placed second in India, in terms of films produced yearly.
Paintings : Nirmal
Paintings are a popular form of paintings done in Nirmal in Adilabad
District.The paintings have golden hues. The region is well known for its
Golconda and Hyderabad painting styles which are branches of Deccani painting. Developed during the 16th century, the Golconda
style is a native style blending foreign techniques and bears some similarity
to the Vijayanagara paintings of neighbouring Mysore. A significant use of
luminous gold and white colours is generally found in the Golconda style. The
Hyderabad style originated in the 17th century under the Nizams.
Highly influenced by Mughal painting , this style makes use of bright colours
and mostly depicts regional landscape, culture, costumes and jewellery.
Sculpture :
Ramappa Temple : It lies in
a valley at Palampet village of Venkatapur Mandal, in erstwhile Mulug Taluq of
Warangal district, a tiny village long past its days of glory in the 13th and
14th centuries. An inscription in the temple dates it to the year
1213 and said to have been built by a General Recherla Rudra, during the period
of the Kakatiya ruler Ganapati Deva. This medieval temple is a Shivalaya (where
Shiva is worshipped) and named after the sculptor Ramappa. It is the only
temple in the world named after its sculptor/architect. Its presiding deity,
Ramalingeswara, is the form of Shiva and a personal god of the Avatar of Vishnu
, Rama . The history says that it took 40 years to build this temple. Planned
and sculpted by Ramappa, the temple was built on the lassical pattern of being lifted above the
world on a high star-shaped platform. Intricate carvings line the walls and
cover the pillars and ceilings. Starting at its base to its wall panels, pillars
and ceiling are sculpted figures drawn from Hindu mythology. The roof (garbhalayam)
of the temple is built with bricks, which are so light that they are able to
float on water.
Architecture : Carved
pillar at Thousand Pillar Temple Sangameshwar temple at Alampur The Thousand
Pillar Temple is one of the very old temples of South India that was built by
the kakatiyas . It stands out to be a masterpiece and achieved major heights in
terms of architectural skills by the ancient kakathiya vishwakarma sthapathis.
It is believed that the Thousand Pillar Temple was built by King Rudra Deva in
1163 AD. The Thousand Pillar Temple is a specimen of the Kakatiyan style of architecture
of the 12th century. It was destroyed by the Tughlaq dynasty during their
invasion of South India. It consists one temple and other building. There are
one thousand pillars in the building and the temple, but no pillar obstructs a
person in any point of the temple to see the god in the other temple.
Alampur Temples : There are
a total of nine temples in Alampur. All of them are dedicated to Shiva. These
temples date back to the 7th century A.D and were built by the
Badami Chalukyas rulers who were great patrons of art and architecture. Even
after a time span of several hundred years, these grand temples still stand
firm reflecting the rich architectural heritage of the country. The temples are
emblematic of the Northern and Western Indian styles of architecture. They do
not reflect the Dravidian style of architecture as is generally common with the
temples in this region.The shikharas of all these temples have a curvilinear
form and are adorned with the miniature architectural devices. The plans and decoration similar to that of the rock cut
temples.The Alampur Navabhrama Temples are historically important and reflect
remarkable architectural skills. Alampur was previously Known as Halampuram, Hamalapuram And Alampuram. Name of this place as Hatampura, mentioned
in the inscription dated AD 1101 belongs to Western Chalukya
Cultural sites: Salar Jung
Museum, Hyderabad, Telangana established in 1951 is the largest collection of
antiques of an individual in the world. Telangana has many museums which
depicts the culture of the erstwhile Kingdoms of the state.The Salar Jung
Museum is an art museum located at, on the southern bank of the Musi river in
the city of Hyderabad, Telangana, India. It is one of the three National
Museums of India. The museum's collection was sourced from the property of the
Salar Jung family .The Salarjung Museum is the third largest museum in India
housing the biggest one-man collections of antiques in the world. It is well
known throughout India for its prize collections belonging to different
civilizations dating back is very largest accocation to the 1st century.The
other prominent Museums are Nizam Museum, City Museum, Hyderabad and Birla
Science Museum.
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