fervor. People decorate their homes with electrical bulbs and candles; bursting of crackers makes the atmosphere more vibrant. The festival is a symbol of victory of light over darkness or good over evil. More…

Holi

Holi, the festival of colour is celebrated in almost all parts of the city with great fervor. The festival provides a refreshing respite from the mundane norms as people from all walks of life to enjoy themselves. It falls during February-March (in the month of Phalguna according to the Hindu calendar). More…

Eid-ul-Fitr

Eid-ul-Fitr, popularly known as the "Festival of the Breaking of the Fast", occurs as soon as the new moon is sighted at the end of the month of fasting, namely Ramadan. The festival is intended to be a festive and joyous occasion. Special foods and delicacies are prepared for the day and are distributed to neighbours and friends. All Muslims of Hyderabad celebrate it with great enthusiasm. More…

Vijaya Dasami (Dussehra)

Dussehra is one of the most important festivals of Andhra Pradesh. It is a Hindu festival, which is celebrated all over India to mark the defeat of Ravana by Lord Rama. Dussehra also symbolizes the triumph of warrior Goddess Durga over the buffalo demon, Mahishasura. The people of Hyderabad also celebrate it with great enthusiasm. More…

Christmas

Christmas, the last festival of the year is celebrated by people from all wakes of life. It paves the way for the New Year. People decorate their houses, erect Christmas trees, and make cribs with figures of baby Jesus, Mother Mary, Joseph, the three kings who come to visit the baby and shepherd boys and their herds grazing around depicting the scenes of Jesus’ Birth in the Bible. They decorate the Christmas tree, hang stars, gifts and illuminate them. Everywhere in the city you can find festivity among the people of Hyderabad; no matter how poor or rich they are. More…

Nag-panchami

Nag-Panchami is an important festival of Andhra Pradesh and is celebrated on the fifth day of the moonlit-fortnight in the month of Shravan (July /August). This is the time when serpents invariably come out of their holes that get inundated with rain-water to seek shelter in gardens and many times in houses. More…

Makar Sankranti

Makar Sankranti is celebrated in the month of 'Magh' and is a harvest festival. It is a celebration of spring on the occasion of the 'ascent' of the sun to the north (Uttarayana). In Andhra Pradesh, Makar Sankranti is a day of goodwill and friendship. It is celebrated in Hyderabad by Telugu people with great enthusiasm. More…

Ugadi

In South India, Ugadi marks the beginning of a new year. It is the festival when the earth appears in a special delight. The beginning of Basanta Ritu (spring) offers life to plants with new shoots and leaves. We see budding tender leaves, flowers and fruits; listen to chanting of birds and smell fragrance of flowers from distance. We find happiness booming everywhere. Naturally, it is the happiest day of the year. The vibrancy of life and verdant fields and meadows full of colorful blossoms signifies growth, prosperity and well-being.

The name Ugadi has been derived from the word Yuga Aadi (Yuga + Aadi) means beginning of new age. It is believed that the creator of the Hindu pantheon Lord Brahma started creation on this day - Chaithra Shuddha Prathipade or the Ugadi day.

People celebrate the festival by cleaning their houses, buying new clothes and offering puja to God for their prosperity. Houses are decorated with fresh mango leaves and special Ugadi dishes are prepared during the occasion. This is the most preferred time to start new ventures as it is the happiest day of the year.

VaraLaxmi Vratam

It is a religious festival celebrated to worship Varalakshmi (Lakshmi, consort of Lord Vishnu). It falls on Friday before the full moon in the month of Sravana.

On this particular Friday, housewives wake up early, finish their mangalasnanam, wear new clothes and decorate their front yard with rangoli patterns on it. Later a small pandal is erected with plantain trunks and festoons are tied on its upper parts. A small copper vessel filled with water, coconut and three betel leaves (Kalasam) is placed on a stool. The Kalasam is worshipped by sprinkling flowers and rice mixed in turmeric powder.

After worshipping, the idol or picture of Lakshmi is put behind the vessel or in the vessel itself. Flowers and turmeric mixed rice are sprinkled on the idol or picture & sandalwood mixed rice is offered. After burning of incense, nine threads twisted together are worn round the right wrist as a bracelet. Fruits and cooked flour dishes are offered to at least 5 housewives, elders and others.

Modern Fairs

Deccan Festival

Deccan Festival is held at Qutub Shahi Tombs Hyderabad on second Friday, Saturday & Sunday of April every year.

This festival brings the choicest talent from the field of Music, Dance and Theatre. Ghazals, Mushairas, Qawwalis, Classical dances and Music reverberate in the air of Hyderabad. The Festival reflects the love, Hyderabadis always had for art and Literature. The Deccan Festival essentially mirrors the glorious Qutub Shahi epoch.

Deccan festival is an exclusive festival sponsored by the Andhra Pradesh Department of Tourism in the month of February. This is a five-day festival reflecting the culture of the Deccan.

Cultural programs organized include Ghazals, qawwalis and mushairas, poetry etc., typical of the city. Various renowned singers and dancers are invited for performances and this is a not to miss for every person who visits Hyderabad.

All India Industrial Exhibitions

The All India Industrial Exhibition is organised by the Exhibition society at Nampally grounds in Hyderabad. This exhibition is held annually from 1st of January to 10th of February. It is one of the most prestigious events of Hyderabad city and it is customary for every Hyderabadi to make a visit to the exhibition with their family and friends.

This exhibition started in 1938 as a local exhibition, i.e. "Numaish", to display the indigenously produced goods in the erstwhile Hyderabad state, has now become one of the largest trade fairs of India.

The All India Industrial exhibition has today come to be recognised as one of the biggest show-window in the country for trade, commerce and Industry. This exhibition has become so popular, that its scope increased enormously both in its coverage and content. Traders from all over India put up their stalls and there are around 2600 stalls, and over 25 lakh visitors in the form of consumers, exhibitors, traders, etc.

Today almost all the state and central Government directly or through their undertakings are represented in this exhibition. It is a big open-air shopping mall with garments, handicrafts, electrical goods, glassware, furniture, kitchenware etc. There are also stalls selling popcorn, chat varieties, sweets, cool drinks, fleecy pink candy made of sugar etc. Children enjoy the joy rides like Giant wheel, Tora Tora, Dragon ride etc.

It is open throughout the day, but usually people come in large numbers in the evenings. The shops are open up till midnight.

Kite Festival

The popular Kite Festival of Hyderabad is held in the month of January and is organized at Shilparamam and various other parts of the city. There are many sporting kite flyers around to take part in the kite-flying competition. Various sizes of kites are on display from palm-sized ones to huge kites as big as a bus. If you are visiting with kids, buy a kite and let them join the event.

Lumbini Festival

In the month of December a festival is organized to celebrate the Buddhist Heritage of Andhra Pradesh. The festival is celebrated in Nagarjunasagar and Hyderabad for three days.

Festival of Andhra Pradesh

This 10 day cultural festival is held in the month of November to mark the anniversary of Andhra Pradesh’ statehood. Eminent musicians and dancers perform during this festival.

Mrigasira

On this day a unique cure for asthma is administered to patients from all over India; swallow live a small freshwater fish called maral. Many sufferers claim miraculous cures. It is celebrated in the month of June.