Hyderabad lights up for a grand Dasara

Hyderabad: The air was thick with excitement on Friday, as Hyderabadis across the city prepared for Dasara — a festival of flowers, food, bonhomie and devotion. If the markets decked up in different shades of marigold, families got busy cleaning their homes and whipping up culinary delicacies for the much-awaited annual festival. Several associations, some with a legacy of over 50 years, were also found making last-minute preparations to host the celebrations at their venues in Nampally and Saroornagar, on Saturday.
Each of them are expected to record a footfall of anywhere from 5,000 to 15,000.
"This year we engaged skilled artists from Solapur to make a 15-feet-tall effigy of Ravan," said Govind Rathi, general secretary of the Rajasthani Pragati Samaj that will host its 52nd ‘Ravan Dahan' at the Nampally Exhibition Grounds on Saturday. "We're preparing a spectacular show with an hour-long display of fireworks and cultural events. Effigies of Meghnath and Kumbhkaran will also be burned alongside Ravana," he added.
The association, in collaboration with the Nampally Exhibition Society, also organised a nine-day Ramayan Mela-2024, complete with garba, kavi sammelan, and more.
Similarly, Premnath Goud, chairman of the Bathukamma Organising Committee in Saroornagar, spoke about the 35-year history of Dasara celebrations at the mini Tank Bund, which includes a ‘Jhaki' depicting Lord Ram, Laxman, and Sita, along with traditional folk dances. Their Ravana effigy will stand tall at 20 feet and is expected to draw over 10,000 visitors, like always.
"Dasara is a family affair for most of us. We start our mornings with puja followed by a family get together where the key focus is food. Everybody gets involved in plating up a huge spread. It is something we eagerly look forward to," said Priyanka Gupta, a resident of Marredpally, even as HR professional, Sayantani Ghosh, from Narsingi said how the day is peppered with mixed feelings. "While the day brings with it a lot of pandal hopping and indulging in good food, it also comes with a reminder of Durga Puja drawing to an end."
For Vijayalaxmi Patil, a homemaker from New Bowenpally, the high lies in exchanging the ‘Jammi Aku,' a leaf with deep cultural and religious significance, on Dasara day. "We also have prayers and decorate our homes with Rangoli and flowers," she said.
Highlighting the cultural importance of Dasara, also known as Vijaya Dashami, Harikrishna Mamidi, director of Language and Culture said: "The festival marks the victory of good over evil. It's also celebrated as Ayudha Puja, when people clean and decorate their tools, vehicles, and weapons to show gratitude."