Hyderabad's Sky Transforms into Canvas of Color During Sankranti
Hyderabad celebrated Sankranti with spectacular energy on Friday. The city's skyline came alive with countless colorful kites. Families poured out of their homes to enjoy the festive atmosphere. Terrace kite-flying sessions became common sights across neighborhoods. Large-scale public events added to the vibrant display. Celebrations continued strongly into the weekend.
Kite and Sweet Festival Draws Massive Crowds
The tourism department's three-day kite and sweet festival concluded on Thursday. It attracted impressive numbers of visitors each day. Officials reported an average daily attendance of nearly one hundred thousand people. The response surpassed all expectations completely. Families, young people, and tourists filled the venue from morning until late evening.
Anjali Reddy, a schoolteacher from Kukatpally, shared her experience. She visited the festival with her children. "We come here every year for Sankranti," she said. "This time the festival felt much bigger. The variety of kites, sweets and cultural programmes kept the kids engaged for hours. It felt like a proper community celebration."
Simple Joys and Special Returns
Many residents cherished traditional Sankranti activities. Mohammed Faizan, a software professional from Tolichowki, described his day. "We flew kites on our terrace in the morning," he said. "Then we came out in the evening to enjoy the food at the Parade Ground."
Tourism officials announced an exciting development. Hot air balloon rides returned to Hyderabad after almost a decade. These rides had not been organized in the city since 2015. Their return made this year's celebrations particularly special. Rides are available from Friday to Sunday. VIP rides began on Friday morning at the Golf Club. They cost Rs 2,000 plus taxes.
Manvi J, general manager at TTDC, confirmed the details. "Rides are being held from Friday to Sunday," she said. "VIP rides, priced at Rs 2,000 plus taxes, began on Friday morning at the Golf Club."
Drone Show Captures Public Imagination
The highly anticipated drone show at Gachibowli generated tremendous interest. It was scheduled to run until Sunday. However, all slots sold out completely. An official expressed amazement at the public response. "The response to the drone show was overwhelming," the official said. "All slots were booked."
Hyderabad's Sankranti celebrations blended tradition with modern attractions. Colorful kites filled the skies during daytime. Hot air balloons returned after years. Drone shows created nighttime spectacles. The city embraced the festive spirit with remarkable enthusiasm.
