Sankranti celebrations soar as kites, balloons and drone shows draw massive crowds in Hyderabad

Hyderabad: Sankranti festivities continued to colour Hyderabad's skyline on Friday, with colourful kites filling the air and families stepping out in large numbers to soak in the festive spirit. From terrace kite-flying sessions to large-scale events, the city witnessed a spectacular display as the celebrations stretched into the weekend.Adding to the festive buzz, the three-day kite and sweet festival organised by the tourism department concluded on Thursday, drawing an average of nearly one hundred thousand visitors each day. Officials said the response exceeded expectations, with families, young people and tourists flocking to the venue from morning until late evening.
"We come here every year for Sankranti, but this time the festival felt much bigger," said Anjali Reddy, a schoolteacher from Kukatpally who visited the kite festival with her children. "The variety of kites, sweets and cultural programmes kept the kids engaged for hours. It felt like a proper community celebration," she added.For many, Sankranti remains rooted in simple joys. "We flew kites on our terrace in the morning and came out in the evening to enjoy the food at the Parade Ground," said Mohammed Faizan, a software professional from Tolichowki.Tourism officials said that hot air balloon rides, a major attraction this year, have resumed after a break of almost a decade. "Rides are being held from Friday to Sunday. VIP rides, priced at Rs 2,000 plus taxes, began on Friday morning at the Golf Club," said Manvi J, general manager at the Telangana Tourism Development Corporation (TTDC). Officials noted that hot air balloon rides had not been organised in the city since 2015, making this year's return particularly special for residents and visitors alike.Meanwhile, the highly anticipated drone show at Gachibowli, which was scheduled to run until Sunday, also sold out completely. "The response to the drone show was overwhelming. All slots were booked," the official added.