Dassera is one of the biggest festivals in the Telugu states, a time for friends and family to come together. While many fast or avoid meat during Navaratri, the final day is usually celebrated with non-vegetarian food and drinks.
This year, Dassera falls on October 2, which is also Gandhi Jayanti. Across India, no alcohol is sold on this day, so wine shops will remain closed, impacting the usual festival celebrations for many.
Wine shops have already displayed notices about the closure. Social media is full of posts and reels confirming that alcohol will not be available, alerting customers in advance and prompting people to plan ahead.
Many festival-goers are queuing outside shops to stock up before Dassera. Others are disappointed that they cannot enjoy alcohol during the festival. Despite this, teetotallers say skipping drinks for a single day is not a major issue.
