Bonalu Navratri Celebrations Begin In Old City

At the Lal Darwaza temple, which is celebrating its 117th Bonalu Brahmotsavalu, the day began with Abhishekam at 6 am, followed by Ganapathi Homam and Sapthashathi Parayanam. Hyderabad police commissioner C.V. Anand and GHMC commissioner R.V. Karnan jointly performed the Dwajarohanam ceremony at the temple.

The much-awaited Ghatam procession will take place on Sunday, moving from Sri Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Shah Ali Banda to Lal Darwaza Temple.

Stating that he felt blessed to visit one of the most powerful temples in the city, Karnan said, “The GHMC made all arrangements for the festivities and requested devotees to celebrate peacefully with devotion.”

Temple committee member Venkatesh said Laksha Kumkumarchana, a mass ritual involving one lakh offerings of vermilion, would be performed on July 18. On Bonalu day, July 20, nearly 20,000 bonams will be offered by devotees.
At the Akkanna Madanna Mahankali Temple, which is holding its 77th annual Bonalu Jathara, the celebrations were inaugurated by Telangana High Court Judge Justice Surepalli Nanda. A large number of women devotees took part in the

Samuhika Kumkumarchana ritual.

“To connect the younger generation with tradition, the temple committee is organising a photo exhibition on Wednesday, showcasing images from the past 76 years of celebrations,” said temple organising secretary S.P. Kranthi Kumar. He added that the Ambari procession of the goddess would take place on July 21