Celebrations broke out across Telangana as it came into being as the 29th state of India on Monday.
‘Jai Telangana’ rent the air as the region comprising 10 districts erupted in celebrations to mark the fulfilment of nearly 60-year-old dream of the people. Bursting of firecrackers, unfurling of the national flag, distribution of sweets and greetings marked the celebrations, which began midnight.
Hundreds gathered at Gun Park near the state assembly building to pay their tributes to the martyrs of Telangana.
Firecrackers, especially brought from Mumbai, were burst at several traffic junctions and the main roads in Hyderabad. Telangana protagonists took to the streets and were seen dancing to the tunes of popular Telangana song. Holding flags of Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), the party activists took to the streets on their motorbikes.
Celebrations were held on a grand scale on Tank Bund and Necklace Road around Hussain Sagar lake, which divides the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad.
The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) illuminated main junctions, historic monuments Charminar, Golconda Fort, legislative assembly building, state secretariat and other government buildings.
Similar celebrations were held in nine other districts of Telangana.
The main official ceremony will be held at Parade Grounds in Secunderabad where K. Chandrasekhara Rao, who took oath as the first chief minister of Telangana, will unfurl the national flag and take salute at a colourful parade.
Various political parties also organised Telangana formation day celebrations. Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief N. Chandrababu Naidu, who is set to take oath as the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, hoisted the national flag at NTR Trust Bhavan, the party headquarters.
Similar functions were being organised at offices of the Congress party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and other parties, non-political pro-Telangana groups and unions of government employees.
The formation of Telangana as a separate state followed passage of Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill in parliament in February this year.
With this Andhra Pradesh has split into two states. Telangana comprises 10 districts while residuary state of Andhra Pradesh comprises 13 districts of coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema.
Hyderabad, one of the 10 districts of Telangana, will serve as the common capital of both the states for 10 years.
The bifurcation brought curtains on undivided Andhra Pradesh, which was formed Nov 1, 1956 with the merger of Telangana with the then Andhra State.