Thousands flood Hyderabad temples to ring in 2026

Hyderabad woke to a blend of celebrations and devotion on the first day of 2026 as thousands flocked to temples across the city. From early morning hours, devotees of all ages, many in new and colorful attire, queued patiently, with waiting times stretching for hours at several temples.

At the Sri Jagannath Temple in Banjara Hills, large crowds gathered through Thursday morning as worshippers sought blessings and a joyful start to the year. Similar scenes unfolded at the Birla Mandir, where devotees lined the hill pathway, extending darshan times but drawing smiles from those who made it through.

A devotee at Birla Mandir said the rush was heavy but manageable, noting that they reached the temple around 12:15 and spent about an hour in the queue. "We have been coming here every New Year for many years, and this time the wait was actually shorter compared to previous years," they added.

Anticipating the surge, temple authorities across Hyderabad rolled out crowd-management measures: extended queue lines, additional laddu counters, drinking water facilities, and volunteer support to assist elderly devotees and families with children. Police personnel and temple staff were deployed to ensure smooth crowd regulation and safety. Despite the long waits, the festive mood remained high as people sought blessings and a positive start to 2026.

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