Hyderabad gears up for a spectacular Sankranti festival in 2025. The celebrations will go beyond colourful kites to include hot air balloons and drones across the city. This was confirmed at a review meeting held on December 22, 2025, by Chief Secretary K. Ramakrishna Rao. The International Kite Festival is set for January 13 to 15 at Parade Grounds, Secunderabad. V Kranti, Managing Director of the Tourism Department, announced participation from leading kite flyers from India and abroad. A Hot Air Balloon Festival will run simultaneously on the city outskirts. Additionally, a Drone Festival will bring drone pilots from across the country. In a fresh twist, some events will take place at lakes that have been rejuvenated by the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA). Chief Secretary Rao shared that Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy aims to showcase these successful water body restorations during the festivities. Officials from GHMC, HMDA, and HYDRAA have been tasked to assign dedicated officers to oversee festival arrangements at these special locations. Ministers will visit the lakes starting the first week of January to check preparations. HYDRAA Commissioner A.V. Ranganath presented details on the rejuvenated lakes, highlighting improvements in public use, water storage, and environmental health. The review meeting saw key participation from senior officials including Vikas Raj, Sarfraz Ahmed, R.V. Karnan, and others. This Sankranti festival promises to be a blend of tradition and innovation, lighting up Hyderabad’s skies and waters in January 2025.