Hyderabad:
In a landmark announcement, Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy declared that the annual spiritual event Koti Deepotsavam will be officially recognised as a State festival starting next year. The festival, which draws thousands of devotees every year during Kartika Masam, is held at Hyderabad’s NTR Stadium and involves the lighting of thousands of lamps as part of sacred rituals.
The Chief Minister further stated that the state government would approach the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, seeking recognition of Koti Deepotsavam as a national festival, highlighting its cultural and spiritual significance.
Officials noted that the elevation to a State festival will bring greater government support, improved infrastructure for devotees, and wider participation across Telangana. Organisers hope that national recognition could boost tourism and bring attention to the festival’s deep-rooted cultural heritage.
“The recognition as a State festival reflects Telangana’s commitment to promoting our rich spiritual and cultural traditions,” said a senior official. Authorities also emphasized that the festival has grown substantially in scale and is now one of the largest spiritual gatherings in the region.
The announcement has been welcomed by devotees, community leaders, and cultural organisations, who view it as a step towards preserving and promoting Telangana’s religious and cultural identity.
