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Telugu people

Total population
c. 81 million[1][2]
Regions with significant populations
India	81,127,740 (2011)[1]
Other	See Telugu diaspora
Languages
Telugu
Religion
Predominantly: Hinduism Minorities: Islam Christianity Jainism Buddhism and others
Related ethnic groups
Kannadigas Tamil people Chenchus Gonds Kurukh Brahuis

Part of a series on
Andhra Pradesh and Telangana
Chronology of the Telugu people, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana history
Geography Political history
History and Kingdoms
Dynasties Assaka Satavahanas Andhra Ikshvaku Ananda Gotrika Shalankayanas Vishnukundinas Pallava dynasty Eastern Chalukyas Kota Vamsa Chagi Velanati Chodas Kakatiya dynasty Musunuri Nayaks Recherla Nayaks Pemmasani Nayaks Vijayanagara Empire Reddy dynasty Bahmani Sultanate Qutb Shahi dynasty Hyderabad State British Raj
v t e

The Telugu people or Telugu vaaru are the people who speak Telugu as a first language. The majority of Telugus reside in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and the Yanam district (part of Puducherry). There is also a significant Telugu population in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The Telugu language is the third-most spoken language in India^[3] and the fourth most in the Indian subcontinent, following Hindi, Bengali and Punjabi.

Language

Telugu is a South-Central Dravidian language primarily spoken in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, India, where it is an official language. Early inscriptions date from 575 AD and literary texts from the 11th century, written in a Telugu script adapted from the Bhattiprolu alphabet of the early inscriptions.^{[citation needed]}

Culture

Literature

Arts

Kuchipudi is a famous Classical Indian dance from Andhra Pradesh, India.

• Kuchipudi


• Vilasini Natyam


• Perini Shivatandavam


• Oggu Katha


• Burra Katha


• Andhra Natyam


• Telugu Cinema


• 
  Kalankari - The art Kalamkari is pronounced as Kalankari (కలంకారి) in Andhra Pradesh

Clothing

• Male

1. Uttareeyam or Pai Pancha (Angavastram or veil)


2. Pancha (Dhoti)


3. Jubba (Kurta) The top portion


4. 
   Lungi (Casual dress)

• Women

1. Cheera (Sari)

• Girls

1. 
   Langa Oni (Half sari)


2. 
   Parikini (Long skirt or skirt below knees and a blouse)

Festivals

Important festivals celebrated by Telugu people include:

• 
  Bhogi, Makara Sankranti, Kanuma in January. (The exact date may vary as per the Hindu calendar.)


• 
  Maha Shivaratri in February/March. (The exact date may vary as per the Hindu calendar.)


• 
  Ugadi or the Telugu New Year in March/April. (The exact date may vary as per the Hindu calendar.)


• 
  Sri Rama Navami celebrated in March/April, 9 days after Ugadi. (The exact date may vary as per the Hindu calendar.)


• 
  Bonalu celebrated in Ashada masam (July/August). (The exact date may vary as per the Hindu calendar.)


• 
  Hanuman Jayanti in March/May/June. (The exact date may vary as per the Hindu calendar.)


• 
  Vaikuntha Ekadashi in June/August. (The exact date may vary as per Hindu calendar.)


• 
  Varalakshmi Vratam in August. (The exact date may vary as per Hindu calendar.)


• 
  Krishna Janmashtami in August. (The exact date may vary as per Hindu calendar.)


• 
  Vinayaka Chaviti in August. (The exact date may vary as per the Hindu calendar.)


• 
  Bathukamma celebrated for nine days during Durga Navratri.


• 
  Dasara in September/October. (The exact date may vary as per the Hindu calendar.)


• 
  Atla Tadde 3rd day in bright half of Ashviyuja month (falls in September/October in Gregorian calendar). However, the exact date may vary according to the Hindu calendar.


• 
  Deepavali date may vary as per the Hindu calendar.)


• 
  Nagula Chaviti in October/November. (The exact date may vary as per the Hindu calendar.)


• 
  Ramadan, Bakrid & Moharram, Vesak Day and Christmas are among the minorities.

Population

Distribution

Telugu is the third most spoken language after Hindi and Bengali in India.^[3]Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are the principle resident states for Telugu people.

Telugu people form the majority speakers in South India with over 71 million speakers in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. This is followed by 3.7 million in Karnataka and 3.5 million in Tamil Nadu making them the second largest language groups in those neighboring states.^[4]

In Karnataka, Telugu people are predominantly found in the border districts with majority in Bangalore city. In Tamil Nadu, Telugu people who migrated during the Vijayanagara period have spread across mostly in Western districts and Northern Districts, with highest^[4] concentration in Coimbatore District.

In Maharashtra the Telugu population is over 1.4 million, followed by 0.7 million in Orissa. Other states with significant population include West Bengal and Chhattisgarh with 200,000 and 150,000 respectively.^[4]

The overseas Telugu diaspora numbers more than 800,000 in the United States, with the highest concentration in Central New Jersey (Little Andhra^[5]).

Notable Telugu people

See also

• Kakatiya dynasty


• Satavahana dynasty


• Krishnadevaraya


• List of people from Telangana


• List of people from Andhra Pradesh


• Telugu development


• Telugu cuisine


• Hyderabad

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Telugu people.

• Translations of Telugu fiction and articles