Patriotic fervor shines bright as young children proudly hold the Indian National Flag in front of the historic Charminar monument during the 80th Independence Day celebrations on Saturday (August 15).
| Photo Credit: NAGARA GOPAL
Hyderabad marked Independence Day on Saturday with flag-hoisting ceremonies, patriotic songs, tricolour decorations and crowds gathering at landmarks across the city, as residents came together to celebrate the 80th Independence Day.The day began with residents stepping out to attend flag-hoisting ceremonies in their neighbourhoods, while many others watched the live broadcast of the Independence Day celebrations from the Red Fort in Delhi and the State-level celebrations organised by the Telangana government at Golconda Fort.In several parts of the city, people bought paper flags and tricolour pins and wore them as part of the celebrations. Patriotic songs played through speakers in several residential colonies, while many households had already put up the national flag on balconies and rooftops.Flag-hoisting ceremonies were held at government institutions, community halls and other establishments across Hyderabad. Government hospitals, including Gandhi Hospital, Osmania General Hospital and Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS), also held Independence Day celebrations. At Rashtrapati Nilayam, around 1,300 students from 19 schools participated in the celebrations. The programme began with a Tiranga rally and included cultural performances by the students.For many residents, the national holiday also became an opportunity to spend time with family. Malls, shopping areas and restaurants saw residents stepping out throughout the day.By evening, the celebrations took on a more visual character as several prominent landmarks were illuminated in the colours of the national flag. From youngsters to senior citizens, residents gathered at popular monuments and public spaces to watch the illuminated structures and capture photographs.The Telangana Secretariat emerged as one of the major attractions, with large crowds gathering to photograph the building illuminated in the tricolour. Many visitors stopped to take selfies against the backdrop of the illuminated Secretariat. A similar festive atmosphere was witnessed at the Charminar, which was already drawing large crowds over the weekend. The tricolour illumination added to its appeal, bringing more visitors to the historic monument. Published - August 15, 2026 07:46 pm IST
