Telangana Government will host mega drone and hot air balloon shows along with its annual international kite and sweets festival during Sankranti festival season. The events will be held at multiple locations in Hyderabad this year. State Tourism Minister J. Krishna Rao told the media that the drone show, to be held at Gachibowli Stadium on the 16th and 17th of this month, will showcase a blend of sport, technology, and culture, highlighting India’s journey from traditional heritage to modern innovation.

He informed that the show will feature an aerial drone race, a mid-air drone football game and visual presentations of Telangana’s major tourist destinations. He explained that the drone race will see pilots competing in various formats on standardised tracks and the drone football will be a fast-paced game in the air played inside the main stadium, with two teams of four football-shaped drones competing mid-air. The hot air balloon show, will take place from 16th to 18th of this month featuring more than 15 hot air balloons flying above 2,500 feet. The morning balloon flights will be held on the outskirts of Hyderabad, while a ‘night glow balloon show’ will be held at the Parade Grounds in Secunderabad.

The annual International Sweet and Kite festival will be held at the Parade Grounds, from 13th to 15th of this month and is likely to see participation from 40 international kite flyers representing 19 countries and 55 flyers from 15 Indian states. The sweets festival will display over 1,200 varieties of traditional sweets and Telangana delicacies across 60 stalls, prepared by Hyderabad residents who are natives of other states.