Hyderabad: People’s Plaza, the popular venue for Sankranti’s customary fun, frolic and merriment and flying kites, looks sombre in the absence of the enthusiastic liveliness this year.
The kite flying spectacle at the plaza has always drawn thousands of people but 2025 has taken a different turn.
The dampener comes in the form of the winter Kashmir utsav mela, a cultural exhibition featuring handicrafts, food stalls and entertainment programmes, whose organisers have booked the grounds, leaving kite enthusiasts without their traditional space.
Families and enthusiasts arriving with kites and reels expressed disappointment.
“It’s heart-breaking to see the plaza without kites this Sankranti,” said K. Suresh Kumar, a father of two kids, who arrived at the location to fly kites. “We’ve been coming here for two years. As my house isn’t on high ground and we can’t fly kites properly, we come here. It’s a huge disappointment.”
Mohd Waleeduddin, another kite flyer, said “I have been flying kites at this vibrant venue since 2017. Last year I came here with my children, who were so excited that they have been looking forward for an encore this year. Their hopes have been dashed. With Hussainsagar in the backdrop and the entire lively atmosphere, it would have been such a great celebration.”
Meanwhile, though kites are not flying at people’s plaza, the city’s rooftops are keeping the tradition alive.
