Ganesh Agamans in Hyderabad draw huge crowds

There are no concert tickets, no reflective wristbands and no DJ or popular singer on stage. But thousands are dancing to dhol-tasha and music, streets are lit up like event venues and fireworks light up the night sky. This is GaneshAgaman in Hyderabad.What was once largely a neighbourhood affair is turning into a city-wide spectacle, with people travelling from across Hyderabad and neighbouring districts to watch Agamans — the arrival of Ganesha. In several localities, the crowds, music, lights and fireworks are beginning to resemble a music concert or a sporting event.Part of the reason for the growing focus on Agamans is practical. Nimarjan day comes with restrictions on the use of loud music systems and tighter regulation of processions. Organisers are therefore increasingly using the days leading up to Ganesh Chaturthi for celebrations that may be difficult to organise during the immersion procession. A large idol of Lord Ganesh being transported to a pandal on a vehicle ahead of Ganesh Chaturthi festival, causing traffic congestion near Kukatpally in Hyderabad on Thursday (September 10, 2026) | Photo Credit: NAGARA GOPAL Dhol-tasha groups from neighbouring Maharashtra are being brought in, bhajan clubs are joining the celebrations, youngsters are turning up in fusion outfits and organisers are competing with elaborate decorations inspired by celebrations in North India and elsewhere.Social media has added another layer to the festivities. Ganesh committees are creating dedicated Instagram pages and collaborating with influencers to showcase idol-making, preparations and Agaman. Influencers are also travelling to popular pandals to film the preparations and processions.Lists of “must-visit” Ganesh pandals are circulating online, with Khairatabad, Balapur, Begum Bazaar Pahlwan Ganesh and Ramnagar ka Raja, some of Hyderabad’s original and decades-old pandals, featuring prominently.Well ahead of Ganesh Chaturthi on September 14The change is also in the timing. Several Agamans were held in the last week of August and the first week of September, well ahead of Ganesh Chaturthi on September 14. At Shivrampally, the Raja Ganesh Agaman was held at a stadium. The processions for Laldarwaza Ganesh, Nampally ka Raja and Ramnagar ka Raja too drew thousands.In Ramnagar, a 19-year-old engineering student died while participating in the Agaman procession on Saturday. Police said a crowd of nearly 10,000 people had gathered for the procession.There is another visible change this year: political leaders are taking a greater interest in Ganesh committees and their celebrations.Neighbourhood-level visibility an added value for politiciansWith the municipal elections looming, neighbourhood-level visibility has acquired added value for political leaders. Sponsoring or associating with a Ganesh committee offers politicians an opportunity to be present in residential colonies and localities where conventional political programmes may not always attract large crowds.Like in Maharashtra, particularly Mumbai and Pune, the Ganesh festival in Hyderabad is increasingly becoming another public space where politics and community activity meet.The sponsorship is not entirely new. Politicians have long supported religious and community events. But the scale of the celebrations, their social media visibility and the proximity of the municipal elections have given such associations greater significance this year.“Agaman is not new, but the scale of the celebrations is touching a different level this year. We are seeing massive, concert-style lighting and fireworks this year,” said Shashidhar Ravinuthala, general secretary of the Bhagyanagar Ganesh Utsav Samiti. The nature of the celebrations has changed over the years, he said.According to Mr. Ravinuthala, the Ganesh festival economy in Hyderabad is worth more than ₹6,000 crore. Citing a study by the Central University of Karnataka, he said, “Five years ago, they conducted a study and found that the economy was worth over ₹6,000 crore, directly benefiting more than two lakh families and indirectly helping over four lakh individuals.”1.40 lakh Ganesh pandals in Hyderabad in 2025He said there were 1.40 lakh Ganesh pandals in the city last year, with the number increasing by about 5% every year. “Only 2-3% of the organisers are conducting Agamans on a massive scale,” he said.