Diwali Mutes Halloween Parties in Hyderabad

Hyderabad: With Diwali and Halloween falling on the same day, several people expect muted patronage for events related to Halloween.

Originally a Western tradition, Halloween was embraced by the Indian hospitality industry over the past decade and a half as a means to boost sales in food and beverages. In Hyderabad, Halloween parties have become popular in recent years.

Typically, Halloween attracts significant crowds to restaurants, bars, clubs, and pubs. However, this year, with Halloween coinciding with Diwali, many people in the city have opted to celebrate Diwali with family instead.

Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Akansha Rao, an interior designer, said: “Halloween and other fun events are great for socialising with friends, but Diwali is a major festival filled with family memories. We grew up celebrating the festival of lights with loved ones.”

To cater to the festive mood, several restaurants, bars, and clubs either cancelled their Halloween events or opted for early celebrations the weekend before Halloween. Venues were adorned with pumpkins, broomsticks, witches, and vampires, creating a Halloween ambience.

Anil Bang, owner of a popular city pub, explained, “Our youth is quite traditional. Halloween usually brings in great business, but since it clashes with Diwali this year, we held early celebrations.”

Akhilesh Kumar, general manager for a group of restaurants, said, “Even though Halloween draws big crowds, Indian festivals remain a priority. This year, we cancelled Halloween celebrations across our outlets and are celebrating Diwali in full spirit.”