Hyderabad came alive on Monday as people celebrated Holi with colors and festivities throughout the day. The city was filled with scenes of joy as people smeared each other with Gulal and children played with water balloons.
Chants of ‘Holi Hai’ filled the air as young people rode bikes around the city. Despite exams happening, the festival was celebrated with great enthusiasm from Begum Bazar to Begumpet, LB Nagar to Lal Bazaar, bringing people of all ages together in the spirit of friendship.
In areas like Dhoolpet, Begum Bazaar, and Goshamahal, the celebrations were loud and lively as people danced to Bollywood music and threw colors at each other. Youth in kurtas and pagidis added to the festive atmosphere, with some heading to Charminar to enhance their Holi experience.
The Marwadi community in the Old City also participated in large numbers, while women, children, and elders celebrated in various areas like Puranapul, Lal Darwaza, and Ghansi Bazaar. Sweet shops were busy, and many housing societies organized feasts, bringing people together regardless of their backgrounds.
The festival began after Holika Dahan, with friends gathering to wish each other good luck. Communities like the Rajasthani group at Kolsavadi and the Telangana Bengali Samithi also joined in the celebrations, using eco-friendly colors like herbal gulal and scents extracted from flowers.
The annual Holi ‘Barat’ procession covered 1.5 km of Begum Bazar, marking the start of the festivities. The Hyderabad City Police ensured a safe celebration by deploying personnel across the city.
