From school playgrounds to community events, Hyderabad celebrates Independence Day with gusto

The Hindu

2 days ago

Hyderabad woke up to the sights and sounds of Independence Day woven into everyday life - children leaving for schools in colourful costumes, neighbours meeting for flag-hoisting in their colonies, shopkeepers adding a touch of the Tricolour to their displays, and patriotic songs and short films from school and community events carrying through the streets.
In Ramanthapur, ten-year-old Sanvi walked out of her school clutching her father's hand, her small frame draped in a bright saree, the pallu firmly adjusted over her shoulder. She was dressed as Rani Lakshmi Bai, a role she had chosen long before the celebrations began.
'I grew up hearing stories of 'Jhansi ki Rani' from my mother. I wanted to dress as her and feel powerful,' she said, her eyes gleaming. Her father explained that Sanvi's mother, a native of Uttar Pradesh, had made bedtime tales of the freedom struggle a ritual, leaving the girl with an enduring fascination for its heroes.
Elsewhere in the city, the Tricolour found its way into workplaces.
At Kompally's newly opened TNR North City Mall, retail staff swapped their usual uniforms for white sarees, kurtas and splashes of green and saffron. 'We rarely get to wear something beyond our dress code. I was very excited to drape a saree,' said one store employee. Her colleague, dressed in white Chikankari kurta and green bottoms with an orange dupatta, added with a smile, 'This day is a matter of pride for all of us Indians. Every year I look forward to dressing up, and also engaging with our customers about the importance of the day.'
In residential colonies and gated communities, residents came together earlier in the day for flag-hoisting, speeches and community programmes, before rounding the morning off with snacks and tea.
The city's roads breathed easier with regular office traffic on pause, though cafes and restaurants brimmed with families dressed in Independence Day hues.
At a popular multicuisine restaurant in Paradise, Keval Kumar, an engineer from Moosarambagh, enjoyed a rare afternoon with his wife and two children. 'We all have different schedules and live in different cities. Today we watched the parade on TV, like we always do, and then came here for lunch. It's our little tradition,' he said.
Shops and eateries were decked in saffron, white and green bunting, offering discounts to mark the day, while stationery sellers worked briskly to keep up with the morning rush for flags and decorations.
The formal celebrations were led by Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy at the iconic Golconda Fort, where he hoisted the national flag before a crowd of over 5,000, including 1,000 students. Senior police officers, IAS officers, judges, eminent citizens and locals joined in the event, which featured cultural performances by the students. A medal distribution ceremony was also held, with honours - President's Police Medals- minted in Kolkata and presented for the past two to three years.
Over 1,000 police personnel were deployed for security and traffic management, which concluded smoothly. The tri-commissionerates, the State police headquarters in Basheerbagh, and other police units also marked the occasion with flag-hoisting ceremonies.
By evening, the formal events had wrapped up and the city returned to its usual rhythm, with markets and eateries still dotted with people wearing the day's colours.