Govt gearing up for grand Bonalu festival; commences on July 17

The government is gearing up for conducting Bonalu the traditional festival of Telangana which commences on July 17, in a spectacular manner in the twin cities. Deputy Chief Minister Mahmood Ali on Thursday held a review meeting along with Minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav and officials of various departments at the Secretariat here and said Hyderabad, which was famous for its ‘Ganga- Jamuna Tehzeeb’ culture, will celebrate the sacred Bonalu on a grand scale.

Speaking at the meeting, the Deputy Chief Minister directed the officials of Home and Excise Departments to form a coordination committee for making fool-proof arrangements. He also asked the officials to begin arrangements in advance at the famous Ujjaini Mahankali Temple in Secunderabad where the festivities will be conducted for two days on July 24 and 25.

text-align: justify;">Mahmood Ali said the Chief Minister wanted the festival to be celebrated on a grand scale as compared to last year as the government has declared Bonalu as a State festival. The festivities will be held in four stages for about two weeks at various localities in the twin cities. Mahmood Ali and Talasani Srinivas Yadav directed the officials to visit the temples to find out about the basic amenities to be provided during the festival.

The government decided to promote the festival in a huge way through publicity in cinema theatres, hoardings and the media. Providing special buses, barricading, traffic regulation, police bandobust, fire services and security were some of the key aspects discussed at the meeting. The officials were told to take the help of the respective temple committees in this regard.