Lit up streets, brightly shining pandals and devotional songs blaring out from the mikes filled the city with religious fervour, colour and resplendence during the last two weeks. Though Lord Ganesha has made his way to the city lakes a couple of days back, the festive mood, however, has not ended.
With the Dasara celebrations round the corner, people are bracing themselves up for another nine days of devotion marked with installation of idols and the resplendence attached to festivities. Durga puja was confined to a few places in the city till few years back with the Bengali associations taking the lead. But the festival has become an integral part of the State’s religious calendar and it reflects in the grandiose celebrations across the city.
Bengali Associations have traditionally been putting up huge idols pandals at Keyes High School in Secunderabad, the Hyderabad Bengali Samithi in Domalguda, Vivekanandapuram near Defence Colony and Banajra Function hall in Banjara Hills. Organisers draw the devotees not only for the devotional activities but also to taste the traditional Bengali dishes at the stalls put up there. Celebrations are also marked with performances of popular film and music artistes from West Bengal.
Dasara is slated to be celebrated on October 24 this year and the nine-days preceding that will also throw up some fun and frolic with the Gujarati community organising the Gharba dance in nook and corner of the city.
The dances are a major draw for all the youngsters in the city, irrespective of communities. The season is filled with festivities and so is the mood.
