Picture Perfect Hyderabad: "Many Celebrations Flood the Streets With Joy, Colors, Sounds and Movement."

Colorful Market Hustle and Bustle During the Fasting Month of Ramadan

During the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, a market is set up around the Charminar. I like to lose myself in this labyrinth of stores, where you can find everything from cuddly toys and colorful saris to delicious kebabs. The city has changed radically in the last twenty years. Cyberabad, as the new IT district in the west is known, is now characterized by office towers and shopping malls. But I find familiarity and comfort, as well as the feeling of being in the Hyderabad I have always known, precisely in the older streets.

The Bonalu Festival: Saying Thank You to the Mother Goddess

Of the many festivals that are unique to Hyderabad and the surrounding area, Bonalu is perhaps the most important. It began as a festival of thanksgiving to the Mother Goddess in her many manifestations after prayers to her ended a plague epidemic in the 19th century. During the festival, women wear pots of cooked food on their heads and carry them to the local temple. The men dress up as Potharajus, the brother of the goddess Mahakali, and dance with whips to the sound of traditional drums or to the beat of thumping DJ music through the streets.

The Khajaguda Hills: The Stony Quirks of Nature

Millions of years ago, intense volcanic activity formed the landscape surrounding Hyderabad. What remains are thousands of ancient boulders, many of which have impressive shapes and patterns. The Khajaguda Hills is one of the few places where you can still visit and admire these extraordinary geological formations.

Hyderabad and Festivals: A Real Love Affair

The city loves its festivals. Many of these festivities flood the streets with joy, colors, sounds, and movement. Hyderabad is essentially a beautiful mosaic of the many cultural groups that have made it their home, and its festivals and rituals reflect this rich shared heritage. The Sadar festival is traditionally celebrated by the Yadavs, who are Hyderabad's traditional dairy farmers. The highlight is a large parade featuring bulls and buffalo through the city.

Laad Bazaar: Glittering Alley at the Charminar

Laad Bazaar is famous for its stores selling traditional bangles. As you stroll through the narrow alleyways, you can watch artisans at small workplaces skillfully shaping bangles from lacquer, the main material, as well as metal wire and semi-precious stones.

The Longest Table in the World: The Table of the Taj Falaknuma

I never had the opportunity to sit at the Taj Falaknuma's famous table, which seats 101 people. But like most Hyderabadis, I'm perfectly content to meet up with friends at one of the many Irani cafés scattered around the city.

About

Harsha Vadlamani is an independent photojournalist and filmmaker. His work explores the multiple inequalities that shape migration, health, and the environment, particularly in rural and indigenous communities across India. His work has appeared in "National Geographic", "The New York Times Magazine", "The Wall Street Journal", "GEO", "Le Monde", and the "Financial Times Magazine", among other publications.