Make Balkampet Yellamma Bonalu Grand, Ensure Foolproof Arrangements: Surekha

Hyderabad: Endowments Minister Konda Surekha has directed officials to organise the Ashada Bonalu celebrations and the annual kalyanotsavam of Balkampet Yellamma temple in a grand and incident-free manner.

Chairing a review meeting with officials of various departments, the minister stressed coordinated efforts to manage the large influx of devotees expected on July 20, 21 and 22. She said the temple, believed to be over 700 years old, holds immense spiritual significance, with devotees believing that visiting Goddess Yellamma is equivalent to darshan of the Ashtadasha Shakti Peethas.

Surekha instructed departments including police, GHMC, TSSPDCL, HMWS&SB, health, fire services, RTC and others to remain fully prepared. Special focus should be placed on crowd control, uninterrupted power supply, sanitation, drinking water, traffic management and medical facilities, especially in view of the monsoon season.

She emphasised that devotees should face no inconvenience while offering Bonalu or having darshan and must return home safely. Measures such as queue management, separate lines for women, elderly and differently-abled persons, and enhanced security at VIP entry points were also discussed.

The minister said arrangements including floral and lighting decorations, kalyana mandapam setup, rathotsavam preparations, prasadam distribution and volunteer deployment should be completed on time. She also called for extensive publicity of the festival’s cultural significance.

Special buses will be operated by RTC, while cultural programmes reflecting Telangana’s traditions will be organised. Police were asked to strengthen security, manage traffic diversions and install systems to track missing persons if required.

Officials briefed the minister on preparations, and she reiterated that all departments must prioritise safety, cleanliness, and convenience to ensure the successful conduct of the festival.