High-level meeting held to review Bonalu arrangements

A meeting of ministers and officials on Friday discussed the arrangements for this year’s Bonalu, the state festival that is to start at Sri Jagadambika temple in Golconda on June 22.

The festival will be held at Sri Ujjaini Mahankali in Secunderabad on July 9 and on July 16 at Sri Akkanna Madanna temple in the Old City. The state government will present traditional silk clothes to 26 temples to mark the occasion.

Later, animal husbandry minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav, while briefing the media said, "The government provides financial assistance to many private temples. It has allocated 15 crore to make a grand success of the festivities. GHMC will depute additional sanitation staff at all temples."

He said all roads would be repaired, especially those used for the



procession, including by the elephants. "Drinking water facilities will be provided to all devotees. Additional police personnel will be deputed to monitor law and order situation while an ambulance will be on standby and medical facilities will also be available," Srinivas Yadav said.

Endowments minister Indrakaran Reddy noted that the Bonalu festival was being organised in a grand manner after the BRS (previously TRS) government assumed office.

Minister Malla Reddy, mayor G. Vijayalakshmi, MLCs Prabhakar Rao, Surabi Vanidevi, MLAs Danam Nagender, Mutha Gopal, Kaleru Venkatesh and Arikepudi Gandhi, Chief Secretary Shanti Kumari, Director General of Police Anjani Kumar, senior officials and representatives of various temple committees participated.