Piety in the air as people stream to temples 

Devotees at the Sri Rama Lingeshwara Swamy temple on the occasion of Maha Shivratri in Keesaragutta, Medchal-Malkajgiri district, on Wednesday.
| Photo Credit: G RAMAKRISHNA

Devotees offer prayers on the occasion of Maha Shivratri at the Sri Rama Lingeshwara Swamy temple, Keesaragutta, in Medchal-Malkajgiri district, on Wednesday.
| Photo Credit:
G RAMAKRISHNA

Devotees offering prayers on the occasion of Maha Shivratri at the Sri Rama Lingeshwara Swamy temple of Keesaragutta, Medchal-Malkajgiri district, on Wednesday.
| Photo Credit:
G. RAMAKRISHNA

Devotees offer prayers on the occasion of Maha Shivratri at the Sri Rama Lingeshwara Swamy temple of Keesaragutta, Medchal-Malkajgiri district, on Wednesday.
| Photo Credit:
G. RAMAKRISHNA

Streets lined with flower and fruit vendors, and temples adorned in vibrant hues of saffron, white, and pink, marked Maha Shivaratri in Hyderabad on Wednesday.

Palash, marigold, jasmine, and roses hung in neat bunches, ready to decorate temples and homes, while fruit sellers weighed out watermelons, apples, and guavas – for the steady stream of fasting devotees.

By 6 a.m., the most revered Shiva temples in and around the city, including Sri Ramalingeswara Swamy Temple in Keesaragutta and Sri Raja Rajeswara Swamy Temple in Vemulawada, had already begun drawing large crowds. Long queues of devotees stretched out even at the local temples in every neighbourhood with massive pandals erected, and security forces maintained, ensuring the day passed without a hitch.

For many, the festival was not just about temple visits, but deeply rooted traditions carried out at home.

Sharing her family’s routine, M. Manjula, a resident of Alwal in Secunderabad said, “After attending the Rudra Abhishekham in our local temple, we continue our prayers at home and fast until the next morning.” She smiled, adding, “Sleep gets the better of me sometimes, so I start preparing food in the afternoon itself. We spend the night chatting as a family – it makes the fasting easier.”

As evening set in, homes and communities prepared for an all-night vigil. Some apartment complexes and gated communities came alive with cultural programmes, where children dressed as Shiva and Parvati re-enacted divine tales. Others chose quieter celebrations, setting up spaces for chanting mantras and meditation.

In Ramanthapur’s Gokhale Nagar, K. Satish Kumar made final preparations for the evening. “We are hosting a jagran at home tonight,” he said. “Family and neighbours will gather to chant mantras and meditate until dawn.”

For some, the festival came as a way to cherish bonds and start a new tradation. M. Harshavardhan, a resident of Secunderabad, had started fasting in recent years – not out of religious obligation, but to accompany his mother. “I used to see her staying up all alone,” he shared. “So I joined her. Now, it’s a tradition – we watch a movie together at home, and I actually look forward to it.”

For others, the festival had a more culinary appeal.

T. Sandeep from Neredmet couldn’t hide his excitement as he spoke about the food. “I wait for this festival just for the upvaas food – sabudana khichdi and all the other delicious snacks my mother prepares.”

Yet, the busiest hands of the day belonged to the fruit vendors, who returned home content with lighter loads and fuller pockets. Their empty carts were proof of a festival well celebrated.

In all of this, city’s usual chaotic traffic took a breather. With most people indoors, either at temples or engaged in home rituals, the otherwise congested roads heaved a sigh of relief, enjoying an unusual calm.

The city’s police force, however, had no time to rest. While devotees sang hymns and whispered prayers, officers remained on duty, ensuring that the night unfolded peacefully.