Hyderabad: People across the city welcomed the New Year with prayers and pujas at temples. Morning prayers began at 6 am, with many visitors attending. Special pujas in the evening made the occasion even more special. The Ganesh temple near Secunderabad railway station, saw a large number of devotees, with special rituals marking the celebrations.
"The temple has been a place of devotion for over five years. Today, we performed special pujas and rituals, offering gold coins to the Lord as part of the traditions," said Shankar Sharma, former temple chairman.
Devotees began arriving early in the morning, with the temple doors opening at 6 am. The temple remained open till 1 pm in the afternoon, allowing visitors to participate in the rituals and seek blessings.
According to astrologers from Sri Subrahmanya Swami Temple in Secunderabad, "At the start of the New Year, people usually want to know how the year will treat them. They also come to wash away their sins and their ancestors' sins, and clear any problems that might slow them down in the New Year."
An 84-year-old devotee shared his belief of visiting a temple on the first day of the New Year, "I visit temple every New Year day because, I believe it brings good luck for the year ahead. I came to seek God’s blessings, and I trust they will stay with me," said Balaram Naidu, retired Deputy Commissioner of Police. "It’s not just on New Year's Day that I visit; I go on other days too. It's a belief for me, and I pray for the well-being of my kids and grandkids," he added.
Not only the popular temples in the city, but nearly all temples saw a large number of devotees. Special pujas were performed at Birla Mandir throughout the morning and offered food to the devotees. Many people visited temples across the city, seeking blessings and enjoying the atmosphere.
"Today, there was a special puja in the temple, and it went very well. After the puja, I heard positive feedback from the public," said Shankar Sharma, the supervisor of Birla Mandir. "Devotee’s overflowed as thousands came seeking blessings for the year 2025." he said.
