Rangam Predicts Pandemic, Fire Accidents; Asks Devotees To Be Cautious

The ritual saw Swarnalatha performing the oracle during the second day of bonalu celebrations. She stood atop an earthen pot and invoked goddess Mahankali onto her and performed the ritual. Responding to a question posed by the priest on increasing fire accidents, she advised devotees to follow necessary precautions. “I am warning you in advance,” Swarnalatha said.

To another question on murders for silly reasons, she said, “When time comes, someone has to go, and my role will also be there,” and asked to show blood to ease her anger. “I am fulfilling the wishes of devotees but my wish remains unfulfilled and whoever tries to stop it they will die with blood vomiting,” she said, urging them to perform poojas as per traditions.

Assuring that it is her responsibility to protect devotees, Swarnalatha said the State would witness bountiful rains resulting in abundance of dairy produce and crop.

Stating that she would protect the State and the country, she wanted devotees to offer ‘saaka’ containing pure water with neem leaves for five weeks will prasadam made with jaggery and chickpeas. “I will accept them happily. If you (devotees) failed to do whatever needs to be done this year, then they would die with blood vomiting,” she said, adding that all the devotees happily celebrated bonalu and offered bonam and saaka.

However, devotees ignored her wish in spite of informing every year, she said. The priest said that lakhs of devotees offered prayers with coconuts seeking blessings from the goddess during the festival and yet children and students were facing problems and requested to bless them.

Swarnalatha said, “I am protecting the children and girls but parents are ignoring them. The devotees are not fulfilling my little wish and if I make my eyes red, you will die with blood vomiting.” In response, the priest urged to bless devotees, who were performing all poojas as per traditions.

After Rangam, a procession with the portrait of goddess Mahankali on a caparisoned elephant - Lakshmi was taken out from the temple with ‘potharajus’ dancing to the drum beats, marking the culmination of the festival in Secunderabad.