“As part of Telangana Tourism, working on the Celebrate the Sky initiative has been one of the most meaningful assignments of my career. This year, we wanted Sankranti in our State to feel different — not just culturally rich, but experientially memorable.
Seeing this festival come together has been a proud moment for all of us. Telangana has always had strong traditions, and now we’re adding experiences that can change the way people see tourism here.
The Hot Air Balloon Festival that has been inaugurated at Golconda Golf Club Premises is one of the key events the Hyderabadi crowd is about to experience. Alongside it, the International Kite and Sweet Festival at Secunderabad Parade Grounds has brought colourful kites from around the world and over 1,000 varieties of traditional and regional sweets to the city’s skyline and streets, blending culture, flavours and family fun into our Sankranti celebrations.
My role has been largely on the ground — coordinating teams, ensuring safety protocols, planning public zones, and making sure the event feels open and accessible.
Behind the scenes, you realize how many people it takes to make this happen — balloon teams, technical staff, vendors, and volunteers. When an event can support livelihoods while giving people a memorable experience, that’s a real impact.
I want to acknowledge the support from our Tourism Minister Jupally Krishna Rao Garu, the Telangana Government, and Special CS Jayesh Ranjan, IAS, Manvi, General Manager of TSTDC. Their guidance and encouragement have made it possible to execute this festival at this scale.
Within the department, our Managing Director, Kranthi Valluri, IAS, reminds us that tourism grows when experiences feel human. That guides a lot of our planning.
I personally believe these events are a chance to showcase Telangana to the public in a way that is approachable and inclusive. These festivals are not just entertainment — they’re an invitation to rediscover our State. This festival is just one step, but it sets the direction for how we want to shape tourism in the coming years.”
— Kavali Chandrakanth,
PMU Consultant — Youth Advancement, Tourism and Culture (YAT&C)