TRADITIONAL FESTIVALS OF BANJARAS TRIBES: A CULTURAL STUDY OF ANDHRA PRADESH

This study examines the traditional festivals of the Banjara community in Andhra Pradesh, focusing on their cultural, social, and spiritual dimensions. Festivals such as Teej, Seetala Mata, Holi, Dussehra, and Polala Amavasya are celebrated through distinctive rituals, folk music, dance, storytelling, and colorful attire, ensuring the transmission of cultural knowledge across generations. These celebrations reinforce community cohesion, strengthen social bonds, and support local economic activities. Despite the influences of modernization and changing lifestyles, Banjara festivals remain central to tribal identity. The study underscores the importance of documenting and preserving these traditions to safeguard cultural heritage and continuity.