Diwali 2026 in Hyderabad: Dates, Markets, Sadar and Cracker Rules

Diwali 2026 falls on Sunday, 8 November, and it is a general holiday in Telangana. Dhanteras is on Friday 6 November, so the busiest shopping days are that Friday and Saturday. Two things make Diwali in Hyderabad different from Diwali elsewhere: the old wholesale bazaars that supply the whole state, and Sadar, a buffalo carnival held two days after the festival. On firecrackers, the city police have limited bursting to 8 pm to 10 pm in past years, and the 2026 order had not been issued when we wrote this.

Diwali 2026 dates in Hyderabad

Telugu calendars sometimes differ by a day for the smaller observances. These are the dates from the Telangana government’s holiday list and widely used almanacs.

Occasion	Date	Notes
Dasara (Vijayadashami)	Tue, 20 Oct	Festive season begins; Bathukamma ends on 18 Oct
Dhanteras (Dhana Trayodashi)	Fri, 6 Nov	Gold, silver and utensil shopping peaks
Naraka Chaturdashi	Sat 7 – Sun 8 Nov	Almanacs differ; many families bathe before dawn and light the first lamps
Deepavali / Lakshmi Puja	Sun, 8 Nov	General holiday in Telangana
Sadar	Tue, 10 Nov	Main carnival at Narayanguda; confirm locally

Because Diwali is on a Sunday, the weekend of 31 October and 1 November is the last relaxed one for big shopping trips, and the evenings of 5 to 7 November will be the most crowded.

Things to do before and during Diwali

Shop the old bazaars

Hyderabad’s festival shopping still runs through its traditional markets.

• Begum Bazaar, near Afzalgunj, is the city’s wholesale hub for dry fruits, spices, brassware, lamps and household goods. Its shops are normally closed on Sundays, so go on a weekday morning.
• General Bazaar in Secunderabad is the place for clothes, textiles and festive wear. Secunderabad East on the Blue Line is the nearest metro station.
• Laad Bazaar and Pathergatti, beside Charminar, sell lac bangles, pearls and wedding finery. Take the metro to MG Bus Station and an auto from there.
• Abids and Sultan Bazaar cover jewellery, sarees and sweets in the old downtown. Sultan Bazaar station on the Green Line is close by.

Our Old City page and Secunderabad page list events in both areas.

Buy diyas and handmade gifts at Shilparamam

The crafts village in Madhapur is the easiest place to buy terracotta diyas, handloom gifts, Bidriware and toys directly from artisans, and its stages usually carry a festive programme in the weeks before Diwali. Late afternoon is the best time. HITEC City on the Blue Line is the nearest station.

Go to a Diwali mela or exhibition

Lifestyle and designer exhibitions cycle through hotels in Banjara Hills and Begumpet and through HICC in the fortnight before the festival, selling clothes, jewellery, home decor and gift hampers. School and charity melas run on the last weekends of October. We add confirmed melas to our Diwali events hub, and the regular weekend pop-ups are on the flea markets page.

See the mall lights

Inorbit Mall in Madhapur, Sarath City Capital in Kondapur and Lulu Mall in Kukatpally put up large installations and run festive markets, performances and children’s activities. They are a good option with small children or older parents, since everything is indoors and parking is on site.

Eat your way through the week

Sweet shops across the city work around the clock before Diwali. Look for kaju katli, badam halwa and ghee sweets at the old shops of Abids and Begum Bazaar, and for Telugu festival sweets such as ariselu and bobbatlu at traditional sweet houses. Hotels run Diwali brunches and tasting menus, listed under food events.

Go to a Diwali party

Card parties are mostly at home. Clubs and bars in Jubilee Hills, HITEC City and Gachibowli run Diwali-themed nights on the two weekends before the festival, and resorts host larger ticketed events. They appear on our nightlife listings as they are announced.

With kids

Diya-painting, rangoli and lantern-making workshops run in studios and malls in the two weeks before Diwali. The kids and family hub lists them. Ramoji Film City also runs its own festive programme with evening shows.

Sadar: Hyderabad’s own Diwali finale

Sadar, also called Dunnapothula Panduga, is a carnival of decorated buffaloes held by the city’s Yadav community as part of Diwali. The largest event, known as Pedda Sadar, takes place at the Narayanguda YMCA, where the community leader Malliaha Yadav started it in 1946. His family still organises it.

The evening begins with a puja. Families then parade their prize male buffaloes, which are oiled, painted, garlanded and hung with bells. Some are trained to rear up on their hind legs in salute, to a distinctive drum beat and group dance. Smaller Sadars are held in other localities on Diwali day and the day after, so that everyone can attend the main one.

The main Sadar falls on the second day after Diwali. In 2026 that is Tuesday 10 November. Organisers confirm the programme only a few days ahead, so check local news before you go. Narayanaguda station on the Green Line is beside the venue, and the road is closed to traffic for the evening. It is free to watch. Keep a safe distance from the animals, and hold on to small children in the crowd.

Firecrackers in Hyderabad: what to expect in 2026

Hyderabad has no blanket ban on crackers, but the police set limits every year.

• The usual window is 8 pm to 10 pm. City police orders in 2018 and 2023 allowed bursting only in those two hours, and the Telangana government’s 2020 order, issued after court directions, allowed only green crackers in the same window. Guides for Diwali 2025 reported the same timings.
• Noise limits apply. Police have said that noise from crackers must stay within the limits set by the Pollution Control Board, and bursting on public roads is restricted.
• Buy only from licensed stalls. Temporary cracker shops need a police licence and are set up at approved grounds a few days before the festival.
• The 2026 order is awaited. The notification usually comes in the week before Diwali. We will update this page when it is issued. Until then, plan on 8 pm to 10 pm.

The Supreme Court’s orders on green crackers in Delhi-NCR do not apply to Telangana.

Safety on Diwali night

• Burns: keep a bucket of water and sand close. Hold a burn under cool running water for 10 to 20 minutes. Do not apply ice, toothpaste or butter. Call 108 for an ambulance, 101 for the fire service or 112 for any emergency.
• Eyes: eye injuries from crackers are a recurring problem in the city on Diwali night. Keep your face away when lighting, never relight a dud, and go straight to an eye hospital if something goes wrong.
• Children should handle sparklers only with an adult next to them, wearing cotton clothes.
• Pets are distressed by the noise. Keep them indoors in a closed room.
• Driving: drink-driving checks are frequent through the festive week, and market roads jam from late afternoon.

A Diwali-week plan that avoids the rush

• 24–25 October: Begum Bazaar and General Bazaar while the lanes are still walkable.
• 31 October – 1 November: exhibitions, melas and gift shopping; Diwali parties begin.
• Weekday evenings, 2–5 November: Shilparamam, mall lights and sweets.
• Friday 6 November: Dhanteras. Go to jewellers and utensil shops early in the day.
• Sunday 8 November: puja, lamps and family at home. The Salar Jung Museum is closed.
• Tuesday 10 November: Sadar at Narayanguda in the evening.

Getting around

• Use the metro for markets. Parking near Begum Bazaar, General Bazaar and Charminar is close to impossible in Diwali week.
• On Diwali evening, cabs are scarce between 7 and 10 pm. Leave early for family visits.
• After Diwali, Hyderabad’s calendar moves on to Comic Con on 11–13 December and Numaish from 1 January. See this week’s events and this weekend for what’s on now.

Frequently asked questions

When is Diwali 2026 in Hyderabad?

Diwali (Deepavali) is on Sunday, 8 November 2026, and it is a general holiday in Telangana. Dhanteras falls on Friday 6 November.

What are the firecracker timings in Hyderabad for Diwali 2026?

The 2026 police order had not been issued when this guide was written. In past years, including 2018, 2020 and 2023, bursting was limited to 8 pm to 10 pm, and guides reported the same window for 2025. Expect a similar order and check the Hyderabad City Police notification.

What is Sadar and when is it in 2026?

Sadar is the Yadav community's buffalo carnival, held as part of Diwali. The main event at the Narayanguda YMCA takes place on the second day after Diwali, which points to Tuesday 10 November 2026.

Where should I shop for Diwali in Hyderabad?

Begum Bazaar for dry fruits, lamps and wholesale goods, General Bazaar in Secunderabad for clothes and textiles, Laad Bazaar and Pathergatti near Charminar for bangles and pearls, and Shilparamam for handmade diyas and gifts.

Is the Salar Jung Museum open on Diwali?

No. The museum lists Deepavali, Sunday 8 November 2026, among its closed holidays.

Does the metro run on Diwali?

Yes. Hyderabad Metro normally runs its regular schedule on Diwali, with the last trains leaving the terminal stations at about 11 pm. Check for any notice from Hyderabad Metro Rail a day or two before.

Sources checked

• www.sakshipost.com/news/telangana/telangana-government-releases-2026-holiday-l
• www.siasat.com/list-of-general-optional-holidays-in-telangana-for-2026-331
• cag.gov.in/uploads/media/List-of-Holidays-for-the-year-2026-1-0691ffd1
• en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sadar_(festival)
• www.sakshipost.com/hyderabad/2018/11/03/hyderabad-police-sets-deadline-for-diw
• www.theweek.in/wire-updates/national/2020/11/14/mds5-tl-firecrackers.html
• deccanchronicle.com/nation/in-other-news/081123/hyderabad-nod-to-2000-outlets-t
• hindutone.com/festivals/diwali-2025/diwali-2025-crackers-guidelines-hyder
• www.thenewsminute.com/telangana/50-people-injured-due-firecrackers-hyderabad-8-cr
• salarjungmuseum.in/Hours-and-admission.html
• magicpin.com/blog/india/hyderabad/Travel/begum-bazar-hyderabad
• en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shilparamam
• hmrl.co.in/train-timings/
• www.deccanchronicle.com/amp/southern-states/telangana/bathukamma-festival-to-be-cel

Researched and written by the hyderabad2go editors. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.