Cultural treat from other side of the pool

Tiny and irksome lanes, bustling hawkers, drunken rikshaw pullers, dilapidated roads painted red with betel nut spits might have made the other side of the Musi unpopular for obvious reasons. But there is much to experience and acknowledge about the less talked cultural legacy of Puranapool, resided by people from all parts of India. 

Beginning from Holi to Diwali, the hues of festive mood and aroma of ethnic culture can be felt at every corner. Come Ganesh and Navaratri festivals, the old lanes will be busy with people from across the city trying to get their best deals for purchasing idols of deities. Many devotees observe fasting for 9 days and organize Jagaran to invite kith and kin. The poor are served with delicious food to seek the blessings of Maata Rani. 

Rakshabandhan is another feast to strengthen the family bonding in joint families where siblings and immediate cousins gather to exchange the love and affection through a holy thread. The festive mood begins much before the actual day with young girls and married women thronging the streets to grab the best of the rakhi designs. 

From jodi rakhis for brother and sister-in-law to original sponge rakhis, one gets a variety of designs at much reasonable prices. On the auspicious day, it’s a visual treat to watch young girls and newly married ladies, draped in colourful saris, accompanied by glittering jewelry. 

Not to forget the colourful Holi. The mist of rainbow colours and mouthwatering desserts may not just stop you but make you go crazy along with the crowd. On Makarasankranthi, the sky is inundated with colourful kites and crowded roof tops. 

Irrespective of festival times, one can feel the warmth and affection of neighborhood, which is a distant dream for the skyscraper nuclear families. And family gatherings during every festival rejuvenates from the mundane life and helps to progress with much vigor. 

To conclude, there may be lackadaisical nature towards sophisticated culture and civic sense, but that may not dampen the spirit of this old Hyderabadis in bringing the upswing mood and cultural congruence in every festival. Take your time to visit the place at least once in your lifetime to experience the positive side of the life.