5 Things you Must do During Ganesh Chaturthi in Hyderabad

Hyderabad is known for so many things from its heritage buildings to delicious cuisine and the wonderful language to its grand celebrations. One of the most popular times to witness Hyderabad celebrating is during Ganesh Chaturthi. The grand idols decked up streets, families and friends visiting the pandals. The fame of Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations in Hyderabad might not be as popular as Chaturthi in Mumbai or Pune, but it’s time to change that. Things2do has created a list of some amazing things you can do in Hyderabad during Ganesh Chaturthi. We guarantee you will be keeping these fond memories with you forever! 

1Don’t forget to visit the Tallest Ganesha in Hyderabad

The idol at Khairatabad is the tallest one in the city, maintaining its record of being a prominent place of worship since 1954. With a tradition running for decades, the committee here has decided to select a unique theme for the idol, the one being ‘Panchmukha Maha Laxmi Ganapati.” Located in a popular landmark of the city, there is always the hustle and bustle of thousands of devotees who come from the far ends of the twin cities to take a look at this beautiful ‘murti’. This year the idol is said to be an eco-friendly Ganesha Idol. The Khairatabad Ganpathi in Hyderabad sees so many devotees line up to seek blessings, that the entire vibe of the area is different. A vibe that you surely want to be a part of. 

2Go Pandal-Hopping and witness colourful celebrations across the city

Every street and corner of the city buzzes with the fervour of celebrations, and grooves to the tunes of music played during the festival. Take a tour of the city and explore the beautifully decorated mandaps and temples during the festival. The areas near LB Nagar, Charminar, Khairatabad, Secunderabad and Seriningampally and Kukatpally have so many beautiful pandals. While the size of these pandals might not all be grand, the level of devotion certainly is! Besides the beauty of the idols and the joy of celebrations, the delicious prasad is a great reason to go pandal hopping in Hyderabad this Ganesh Chaturthi. 

3Take a sneak peek of the ‘Maha Laddu’

Speaking of prasad, which is always delicious, Hyderabad also does something quite unique during Ganesh Chaturthi. There is a competition organised every year to reward the heaviest and biggest laddu. The competition is usually set beside the famous idol of the Khairatabad Ganesh and has several people participating to create the grandest laddu. It is auctioned and is bought at very expensive prices and the money is used for charity. So if you like laddoos, as much as Ganeshji does, what are you waiting for?

4Take a tour around the city and witness more than 70,000 Pujas

Ganesh Festival is celebrated on a large scale in Hyderabad. From small homely idols and intimate celebrations to grand festivities where the entire city comes together and even some pandals which are decorated literally like masterpieces of art- this festival echoes in every nook and corner of the city. On the day of immersion, the roads are busy with the celebrations of farewell and you can see people dancing and grooving to the fullest. Attending these poojas with friends and family during Ganesh Chaturthi is something Hyderabadis look forward to all year long! 

5Don’t miss out on the Pandal in the Old City

With the convergence of cultures and the colourful traditions evolving through the decades, this pandal is one of the oldest ones in the city and is noted to be one of the most iconic ones. If you are a Hyderabadi or planning to visit the city during this time, this old city pandal should be on your bucket list.

For regular things to do in Hyderabad don’t forget to follow us on Instagram @things2doinhyderabad 

by Sreeja Maitra

Content Writer at Things2do