Grand Bonalu celebrations in Hyderabad

A vibrant and colourful atmosphere prevailed across parts of the old city as devotees celebrated the annual Bonalu at different Mahankali temples on Sunday.

Spells on showers did not deter the enthusiastic ‘Potharajus’ from leading processions to various temples even as youth danced to the drum beats. Women carrying the traditional ‘bonam’ offerings converged at the temples throughout the day.

Dressed in the traditional attire, devotees started queuing at the temples since early in the morning. As the day progressed, the queues kept increasing. Authorities of various temples had put up rainproof tent to shield the visitors from the spells of the rain.

Celebrations at the two important temples Akkanna Madanna Mahankali temple at Hari Bowli and Sri Simhavahini Mahankali temple at Lal Darwaza reached a crescendo. Several politicians, film celebrities, sportsmen and government officials also visited the place.

Union Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy, Ministers T Srinivas Yadav, Indra Karan Reddy, Mohammed Mahmood Ali and others visited the temples. As part of the 97th Vaarshika Bonala Mahotsvam 2019, the Nalla Pochamma Devi and Sri Mahankali Devi Temple Committee at Sabzimandi made grand arrangements at the temples for the smooth conduct of the



festivities.

A procession on a caparisoned elephant was taken out from the Mahankali Devi temple, Sabzimandi and passed via Tappachabutra police station and reached Nallapochamma Devi temple, Nataraj Nagar late in the evening.

The Bonalu festivities at Akkanna Madanna Mahankali and Lal Darwaza and other temples will conclude on Monday. This will be followed with ‘Ghatam’ processions in the afternoon which will conclude at Afzalgunj late in the evening.

Folk artistes and Pothurajus who lead the ‘Thottela’ processions and the celebrations, were in great demand. Many temple committees roped in folk artistes from neighbouring villages of Mahabunagar, Warangal, Nalgonda and other places.

The police made elaborate security arrangements by deploying Rapid Action Force, Telangana State Special Police, City Armed Reserve, Commissioner’s Task Force to take care of the security arrangements. Hyderabad Commissioner Anjani Kumar visited the Akkana Madanna temple and Simhavahini Mahankali temple at Lal Darwaza.

Bonalu festivities at Akkanna Madanna Mahankali and Lal Darwaza and other temples will conclude on Monday. This will be followed with ‘Ghatam’ processions in the afternoon which will conclude at Afzalgunj late in the evening