Telangana Government Announces Free Power Supply and Guidelines for Ganesh, Durga Pandals
PakkaHyderabadi 
Telangana government extends free electricity to Ganesh and Durga pandals while enforcing strict festival guidelines.
The Telangana government has announced free power supply for Ganesh and Durga pandals during the upcoming festival season. Orders issued by the Southern Power Distribution Company of Telangana Limited (TSPDCL) specify that both Ganesh pandals for Ganesh Navaratri (August 27–September 6) and Durga pandals for Durga Navaratri (September 29–October 12) will receive free electricity for authorized illumination. This initiative is intended to support festival organizers across the state, ensuring smooth and bright celebrations.
To ensure public safety and compliance, the Telangana police have released detailed guidelines for Ganesh mandap organizers. For the transportation and installation of idols as well as Navaratri celebrations and immersions, organizers must seek permission via an online application on the Telangana police portal and also obtain approval from the electricity department. Expert assistance for setting up mandaps is advised to minimize safety risks.
Key rules include prohibitions on blocking roads and a strict ban on DJs at pandals. Use of microphones is restricted after 10 p.m., and all sound equipment must adhere to government sound level regulations. Organizers are also required to install CCTV cameras and maintain fire safety standards throughout the festivities, ensuring the safety of celebrants and the broader community.
In Hyderabad, DCP Sneha Mehra of the South Zone convened a coordination meeting with Ganesh Utsav organizers to address security for this year’s Ganesh immersions. She listened to organizers’ concerns, pledged to collaborate with relevant police officers for seamless festival management, and emphasized the need for flawless, secure installations and processions. Strict protocols will be enforced for crowd control, noise, and fire safety.
Appealing to the public, DCP Mehra urged devotees to celebrate peacefully and to begin immersion processions early to avoid delays and congestion. She stressed the importance of not taking the law into one’s own hands, even in the face of provocation, and called on organizers and attendees alike to foster a calm and safe festival atmosphere in Telangana.
