Hyderabad Residents Embrace Diwali Traditions: Diyas, Sweets, and Bommala Koluvu

As the city of Hyderabad prepares to welcome Diwali, the air is filled with a sense of warmth and celebration. On 2025-10-19T20:13:59+00:00, residents across the city are seen lighting diyas, or traditional oil lamps, on their balconies, creating a shimmering canopy of light. The city hums with the energy of the festivities, as families gather to celebrate the occasion.

One such resident, Divya Kiran, shares that her family has a yearly tradition of performing Lakshmi Puja, a ritual to honor the goddess of wealth and prosperity. "It is a festival we wait for all year, but this time we are keeping it simple -- just diyas, sweets, and family," she says.

Meanwhile, the markets of Hyderabad have been bustling with shoppers in the days leading up to Diwali. Families have been moving from stall to stall, selecting traditional diyas, paper lanterns, and flowers to decorate their homes. "This time, we shopped for our favourite sweets and decorations early," says Harish Ranjan, a resident of Nampally.

Several Telugu-speaking communities in Hyderabad also celebrate Bommala Koluvu during Diwali, a tradition of arranging dolls and figurines in elaborate displays. Homes come alive with colourful setups depicting scenes from mythology, village life, and everyday stories, with steps adorned with lamps, flowers, and miniature temples. "It is a fun time during Diwali, where we use these dolls to tell stories of Indian mythology to our children. This keeps them interested in the festive energy as well," explains Khushi Maheshwari, a resident of Madhapur.