Dussehra 2026 in Kurnool: Events, Puja & Where to Celebrate

TL;DR

🪔 Kurnool celebrates Dussehra across ten days of Navratri with pujas, processions, and cultural programs at temples throughout the city. 🏛️ Alampur Jogulamba Temple, one of the 18 Shakti Peethas, draws pilgrims from across Andhra Pradesh during the festival season. 🌺 Sri Sri Varasidhi Vinayaka Temple and Durga Gudi are the city's central gathering points for Navratri worship. 🎭 jagannatha swami temple and Sri Veerabhadra Swamy Temple host dedicated Dussehra programming for surrounding neighborhoods. 🎆 Vijayadasami processions bring together the city's communities for the festival's climactic tenth day.

Dussehra in Kurnool: The Festival and Its Meaning

Dussehra — celebrated as Vijayadasami across Andhra Pradesh — is among the most deeply observed festivals in Kurnool district. The ten days of Navratri that precede Vijayadasami fill the city's temples with prayers, cultural programs, and community gatherings. On the tenth day itself, the celebration reaches its peak with processions, the symbolic defeat of Ravana, and the Shastra Puja that marks the occasion in South India's warrior and artisan communities.

Kurnool's geography adds special significance to this season. The district sits on the banks of the Tungabhadra River and is home to some of Andhra Pradesh's most revered pilgrimage temples. During Dussehra, these sacred sites draw not just local residents but pilgrims from across the state and beyond.

Key Temples Celebrating Dussehra in Kurnool

Alampur Jogulamba Temple

The Alampur Jogulamba Temple, located in Alampur near the Tungabhadra-Krishna river confluence, is one of the 18 Shakti Peethas recognized in Hindu scripture. The presiding deity, Jogulamba Devi, is regarded as one of the most powerful manifestations of the Goddess. During Navratri and Dussehra, the temple becomes a major pilgrimage destination, with special pujas, abhishekams, and cultural programs organized across the ten-day period.

The temple complex is managed under the Endowments Department of Andhra Pradesh and typically sees its highest visitor numbers during the Dussehra season.

Sri Sri Varasidhi Vinayaka Temple

Sri Sri Varasidhi Vinayaka Temple is one of Kurnool's prominent Vinayaka shrines and sees significant festival activity during the Navratri period. Vinayaka, as the remover of obstacles, is worshipped at the outset of major festivals, and the temple organizes dedicated pujas and community programs during Dussehra.

Jagannatha Swami Temple

Located on Lakshmipuram Road, the jagannatha swami temple is an active center of devotion in Kurnool's residential neighborhoods. Dussehra programming includes kalasha sthapana at the start of Navratri, daily pushpa lankaras, and a Vijayadasami procession that draws families from the surrounding area.

Sri Veerabhadra Swamy Temple

Sri Veerabhadra Swamy Temple hosts one of Kurnool's most distinctive Dussehra observances. The Veerabhadra deity — associated with valor and protection — is worshipped with special Shastra Puja on Vijayadasami. The temple's celebrations reflect the Shaivite traditions that run deep in Kurnool district.

Durga Gudi

The Durga Gudi is a central reference point for Durga worship during the Navratri season in Kurnool. Durga Ashtami and Mahanavami — the eighth and ninth days of Navratri — see the most intense puja activity here, with special archanas, homams, and cultural programs organized for the occasion.

The Full Temple Network

The Hanuman Temple Kurnool, kurnool vinayaka temple, Koteshwara temple, Sri Anjaneya Swami Temple, Sri Brahmeswara Swamy Temple, Sri Chenna Kesava Swamy Temple, Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple, and Sri Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple all host Dussehra-season programs in their respective neighborhoods, creating a citywide calendar of religious observance that sustains across all ten days of Navratri.

The Festival Calendar

Navratri begins with the planting of the kalasha on Pratipada — the first day. Each subsequent day brings specific pujas aligned with the nine manifestations of Durga. The 2026 sequence runs from late September through early October.

The weeks leading into Navratri include Sankashti Chaturthi (September 1), Krishna Janmashtami 2026 (September 4), and Pradosh Vrat (September 9) — creating a dense religious calendar that keeps Kurnool's temples active through September.

Vijayadasami itself is marked in Kurnool by the Shastra Puja, Vidyarambham (initiating children into education), and Ayudha Puja — the consecration of tools, vehicles, and instruments.

Insider tip: The Alampur Jogulamba Temple, about 22 km from Kurnool city, is a significant pilgrimage if you are visiting during Dussehra. Organized transportation from Kurnool to Alampur operates during the festival season. Go early on Mahanavami and Vijayadasami — the temple receives its highest crowds on these two days.

Vijayadasami Processions

The Vijayadasami procession in Kurnool moves through the main commercial and residential arteries of the city, with tableaux depicting scenes from the Ramayana. Effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarna, and Meghnad are ceremonially burned at open grounds in the evening — a tradition that brings together residents of all communities.

The procession route and timing are announced by the district administration. Crowd levels on Vijayadasami are among the highest of any festival in Kurnool's annual calendar.

FAQ

Which temple is most important to visit during Dussehra in Kurnool? Alampur Jogulamba Temple is considered the most significant pilgrimage site in the region during Dussehra. Within Kurnool city, Sri Sri Varasidhi Vinayaka Temple and Durga Gudi are the most central gathering points.

When does Navratri begin in 2026? Navratri 2026 begins in late September, with Vijayadasami falling approximately ten days later. The exact date shifts each year with the lunar calendar — confirm through the panchang.

Is Alampur temple open throughout Navratri? Yes. The temple operates extended hours during Navratri and Dussehra, with special programs on each day. Confirm specific darshan timings directly with the temple.

What is Shastra Puja? Shastra Puja is the ceremonial worship of tools, weapons, and instruments performed on Vijayadasami. Artisans, agricultural workers, and professionals place their tools before a deity and offer worship — a tradition common across Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.

Are there cultural programs during Dussehra in Kurnool? Yes. Government and civic organizations in Kurnool organize folk dance performances, Harikatha, and Burrakatha programs during the Navratri season, particularly in the evenings. Check local announcements closer to the festival dates.

The Bottom Line

Kurnool's Dussehra celebrations are shaped by the city's dense network of temples, each hosting its own schedule of pujas across Navratri's ten days. Alampur Jogulamba Temple brings pilgrims from beyond the district; Sri Sri Varasidhi Vinayaka Temple, jagannatha swami temple, Sri Veerabhadra Swamy Temple, and Durga Gudi anchor the celebrations within the city. Vijayadasami — the tenth day — is the occasion for processions, Shastra Puja, and the symbolic burning of Ravana. Confirm hours and specific programs before you go, and visit the Kurnool city page for a complete local directory.