Hyderabad: A festive atmosphere prevailed on the older parts of the city as people celebrated Bonalu here on Sunday. Since morning, devotees, mostly women, made a beeline at the temples to offer prayers.
Dressed in festive finery, women offered ‘Bonam’, which consists of cooked rice, jaggery, curd and turmeric water, carried in steel and clay pots on their heads. The devotees believe that the annual festival will ward off evil and usher in peace.
The main celebrations were held at Simhavahini Mahankali Temple at Lal Darwaza and the Akkanna Madanna temple at Hari Bowli. People queued up at several other temples too in Gowlipura, Lal Darwaza, Uppuguda and Aliabad areas. The Bhagya Laxmi temple at Charminar too saw huge crowds.
Pothurajus dancing at the Simhavahini Mahankali Temple Lal Darwaza (Pics by P. Surendra)
Cabinet Ministers Mr Indra Karan Reddy and Mr T. Srinivas Yadav made offerings of silk clothes at the Simhavahini Mahankali Temple on behalf of the Telangana government,
Telanana Pradesh Congress Committee President Mr Uttam Kumar Reddy, former Minister Mr Jana Reddy and Mr. Anjan Kumar Yadav visited the temple on behalf of the Congress party. Former MP and actress Ms Vijayashanti too made offerings at the temple.
A small girl carries Bonam at the Simhavahini Mahakali temple at Lal Darwaza. (Pics by P. Surendra)
Hyderabad Mayor Mr B. Rammohan, GHMC Commissioner Mr B. Janardhan Reddy, Hyderabad Commissioner Mr Anjani Kumar, Telangana Jana Samithi founder Mr Kodandaram, former Home Minister Mr T. Devendar Goud were amongst other prominent personalities who participated in the festivities at the temples in the old city.
A major tragedy, however, was averted at the Akkanna Madanna temple in Old City during Bonalu celebrations when an ‘arch’ put up to welcome the VIPs gave in. Police personnel who were at the spot swung into action and ensured that it did not collapse. Later, it was removed with the assistance of the GHMC personnel.
This is the fifth year of Bonalu being celebrated as a state festival. This year the Telangana Rash-tra Samiti government has released Rs 15 crore. The two-day festivities will conclude on Monday with ‘Rangam’, the oracle prediction at Akkanna Madanna temple, followed by a combined procession on a caparisoned elephant, carrying the ‘ghatam’ of the goddess.
The procession will pass through the main thoroughfares of the old city, including the historic Charminar, before reaching the Delhi Darwaza Matha Temple near the Musi river where the ‘ghatam’ will be immersed.
Bonalu is celebrated in parts of Hyderabad and its twin city Secunderabad during Ashada mas-am (July-August). Also known as Ashada Jatra Utsavalu, it is celebrated on 3 different Sundays in different places in the twin cities. Last Sunday, it was celebrated in Secunderabad.
It is commonly beli-eved that the festival was first celebrated over 150 years ago after a major cholera outbreak. People believed that the epidemic was due to the anger of the Mahankali and began offering bonalu to placate her.
