Enhanced Surveillance For Bonalu Festival In Old City: CV Anand
The people across Telangana celebrate the festival with great devotion: CV Anand
Hyderabad: Hyderabad Police Commissioner CV Anand on Friday said that the Bonalu festivities have been observed for the last 120 years and the people celebrate the festival with great devotion for a month every year.
He said this after participating in ‘shikara puja’ and ‘dhwajarohanam’ ceremonies as it is customary for the temple committee to invite the Hyderabad Commissioner for these annual events.
According to the Police Commissioner, the Lal Darwaza Simhavahini Sri Mahankali Temple is a historically significant temple. In 1908, severe floods caused by heavy rains and a widespread plague epidemic in areas surrounding this temple led to the death of approximately 50,000 people.
At that time, Hyderabad’s population was four lakh. Following advice of Prime Minister Kishen Pershad, the then Nizam, Mir Mahbub Ali Khan, arranged special prayers for the Goddess. After these prayers, the Musi River floods subsided, and the epidemic receded. Since then, it has been a tradition to celebrate Bonalu during the Ashadam month.
Anand said that the Bonalu festivities have been observed here for about 120 years, continuing the same tradition and people across Telangana celebrate the festival with great devotion for a month. The temple committee is organizing these festivities in coordination with all stakeholders.
The police department, on behalf of the government, has made all necessary security arrangements to prevent any untoward incidents. He recalled that the Golconda Bonalu and Balkampet Bonalu were conducted peacefully. He explained that proactive measures have been undertaken in coordination with all departments, and the Hyderabad south zone police have made special arrangements, including bringing in additional police personnel from outside.
Coordination meetings were held with various departments, including Water Works, Electricity, Roads and Buildings and the Municipal Corporation, for Lal Darwaza Bonalu. Honorable Ministers Ponnam Prabhakar and Endowments Minister Konda Surekha also participated in these meetings.
The Ministers issued orders to officials from all departments to ensure that all arrangements were made without any shortcomings. Anand urged the temple committee members and devotees to cooperate with the police department and assured that the Police would make every effort to ensure devotees face no inconvenience.
He also stated that special surveillance has been set up with Crime Branch police and She Team units to prevent pick-pocketing, chain snatching, and eve-teasing during the celebrations.