HYDERABAD: The Hussainsagar shimmered in its beauty under dazzling pyrotechnics in a fitting finale to the week-long State Formation Day celebrations on Sunday evening. The weather couldn’t have been better - the heavens didn’t open up and a cool breeze blew across, setting the stage for scores of people, who made it to the Tank Bund, to witness an awesome laser show as well as mesmerising fireworks. The usually bustling Tank Bund was literally milling with crowds. In short, it was a festival like no other.
The who’s who of the State government were in attendance and the colourful performances of cultural troupes, laser shows synchronised with foot-tapping music, majestic police brass and pipe band among others offered a visual feast.
But what’s a celebration without sweets? As many as one lakh laddus were distributed to all those who converged on the Tank Bund. Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao offered one to Governor ESL Narsimhan and helped himself with one much to the delight of the crowd and the shutterbugs who vied with one another to capture the ‘sweet moment.’
The celebrations began with both the Chief Minister and the Governor pressing special buttons on the stage to set off the fireworks bursting from the base of the majestic Buddha’s statue at the centre of the lake.
As dignitaries sat in the backdrop of the Kakatiya Thoranam, the police motorbike cavalcade and mounted police greeted them. Artistes, pothurajus, dappu artistes and women carrying Bathukammas made their way waving to the other end of the Tank Bund road. Stilt walkers roped in from Russia enthralled the attendees. It was a truly historic event that captured the Telangana culture and spirit.