(Prof. Shankar Chatterjee)
Durga Puja in Hyderabad is one of the most celebrated festivals, bringing people together to witness attractive pandals, divine rituals, and cultural festivities. From intricately designed idols to the rhythmic beats of dhak, the city transforms into a hub of devotion and celebration.
Durga Puja, also known as Durgotsava or Sharadotsav, is a major 10-day festival celebrating Goddess Durga’s victory over the demon king Mahishasura, symbolising the triumph of good over evil. While some communities observe the festivities over six or seven days, the celebrations bring people together through devotion, culture and community participation.
For the first time, the SMR neighbourhood in Bandlaguda Jagir, Suncity, Hyderabad, will celebrate Sharadiya Durga Puja from October 15 to 21, 2026, at the clubhouse of SMR Vinay Harmony County.
The neighbourhood is home to several residential communities, including SMR Vinay Harmony County, SMR Vinay Boulder Woods, SMR Heights and SMR Villas. Despite being home to families from diverse backgrounds, the neighbourhood had never witnessed a collective Durga Puja or Dussehra celebration. For many families from eastern India, as well as others who cherish the festival, experiencing Durga Puja meant travelling across the city to visit a pandal or, at times, missing the celebrations altogether.
The seven-day celebration, from October 15 to 21, will feature traditional rituals, cultural programmes and community activities, bringing the neighbourhood together in a shared festive spirit.
According to the committee members, everyone is welcome, irrespective of religion or beliefs. Cultural programmes will take place in the evenings, with performances and activities in Bengali, Hindi, English and Telugu. The underlying message is simple: this is not a celebration for one community, but a celebration by and for the entire neighbourhood. The initiative also extends beyond festivities, with social welfare activities planned, including a free health camp for SMR Vinay residents and young children.
The event is the brainchild of Mr Sourav Bose, who has been instrumental in conceptualising and driving the initiative forward. His brand, High Volt Bowling & Gaming, has supported the puja as both title and silver sponsor. Another significant milestone was the support of Mr Nawin Kishore of Lavis Medicare, the first external supporter to place his trust in the initiative. He came on board as the title partner when the puja was still in its planning stage, and his early confidence gave the organisers the encouragement to turn the vision into reality.
The other supporting pillars are Mr Deep Verma, Mr Saurav Roy and Mr Subhashish Mishra. The digital platform, suncitydurgapujasamity.com, was developed and launched by Mr Deep Verma in just 60 minutes, making information about the puja and its activities easily accessible to the community.
Looking ahead, the committee hopes to build on this initiative by undertaking more social welfare activities for economically disadvantaged communities, making Suncity Durga Puja not only an annual cultural celebration but also a platform for community service, inclusion and collective goodwill.
(Dr Shankar Chatterjee is a former Professor & Head (CPME), NIRD & PR (Government of India), Hyderabad, India).