Hyderabad celebrates Dasara with prayers, festivities and unusually quiet roads

From last-minute festive shopping that caused traffic congestion in several parts of Hyderabad to near-empty roads on Dasara, the city witnessed a marked change in pace as residents celebrated the festival on Tuesday (October 20, 2026) with prayers, rituals and the promise of new beginnings.

With Dasara falling on a Tuesday, the festival also offered many residents an extended weekend, bringing a brief respite from the city’s usual weekday rush.

For many, the celebrations began at home, with prayers to goddess Durga, flowers adorning doorways and families gathering for customary rituals. Several temples across the city, particularly those dedicated to goddess Durga, witnessed heavy footfall on Tuesday morning as devotees sought blessings. Many also visited temples to perform puja for their vehicles as part of Ayudha Puja, an occasion on which people clean and worship the tools, equipment and other implements associated with their livelihoods.

In the afternoon, the focus shifted to the customary sighting of the Palapitta (Indian Roller), which is considered auspicious and believed to bring good fortune. People also visited Jammi Chettu sites and exchanged jammi leaves as a symbol of goodwill and prosperity.

While some communities marked the occasion by worshipping goddess Durga, others commemorated Lord Rama’s victory over Ravana. Ravana effigy-burning events held in several parts of the city drew people who gathered to witness the spectacle.

For many others, the holiday was an opportunity to meet friends and step out without having to contend with Hyderabad’s usual traffic. With roads witnessing considerably less traffic than on regular working days, travelling from one part of the city to another was hassle-free.