Secunderabad Sees Vibrant Bonalu Celebrations, CM Offers Prayers To Ujjaini Mahankali
Devotion, drumbeats and tradition fill Secunderabad streets as lakhs celebrate Ashada Bonalu at Ujjaini Mahankali temple.
Hyderabad: Secunderabad’s Ujjaini Mahankali temple came alive with colour, music, and devotion as thousands of devotees lined up to celebrate the annual Ashada Bonalu on Sunday. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy offered silk garments to Goddess Mahankali, while endowments minister Konda Surekha offered the Golden Bonam to the deity.
Early on Sunday, at 4.30 am, transport minister Ponnam Prabhakar and his wife offered the first Bonam to Goddess Mahankali, after which the priests conducted special rituals. Devotees began flocking to the temple from 5 am, with women offering bonams to the deity.
Bonalu is celebrated every year in the Hindu calendar’s Ashada month, which typically falls between July and August. The festival’s origins trace back to the 1800s, when a plague broke out in Hyderabad and Secunderabad. Devotees prayed to Goddess Mahankali, seeking protection, and after the plague subsided, people began offering Bonalu every year to the Goddess.
The Bonam, which means “meal” in Telugu, includes rice, milk, jaggery, and tamarind soup. Devotees carry earthen or brass pots on their heads and offer the assortment to the deity.
The Chief Minister made special offerings at the temple and interacted with devotees and Nadaswaram performers on the temple premises. Ministers Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, Konda Surekha, Ponnam Prabhakar, and Adluri Laxman offered prayers along with the Chief Minister. MLAs Danam Nagender and Sri Ganesh, along with Rajya Sabha MP Anil Kumar Yadav, followed suit.
Several dignitaries visited the temple and offered prayers to the deity. Union minister G. Kishan Reddy, after offering prayers, said, “Bonalu has been celebrated with devotion for hundreds of years. It is special for every woman and reflects the culture of Hyderabad.”
Minister Seethakka also offered special prayers at the temple. BJP state president N. Ramchander Rao, Malkajgiri MP Etala Rajendar, Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatreya, GHMC commissioner R.V. Karnan, and other officials offered prayers to the deity.
State cultural department chairperson Vennela Gaddar, along with Telangana Sangeetha Nataka Academy chairperson Dr Alekhya Punjala, offered 150 Bonams from women across various districts of the state.
The streets of Secunderabad turned into a lively scene as Potharajus danced to drumbeats. Potharaju is a key figure in Bonalu and is believed to be the goddess’s brother who wards off evil.
Speaking with Deccan Chronicle, Purushottam, a Potharaju from Almasguda, said, “It is a tradition passed down through three generations in my family. My grandfather was a Potharaju, and so was my father. I took up the tradition, and I will pass it on to my kids as well.”
Preethika, a resident of West Marredpally, said, “Every year since I was a kid, I walk nearly five kilometres to offer Bonam to the Goddess. Although the wait in line was a bit tough, since we stood with a Bonam on our head, they provided all the amenities for us. It is a mesmerising experience.”
The Telangana Police made elaborate security arrangements and deployed hundreds of personnel across Secunderabad to ensure that the celebrations took place smoothly. Traffic diversions at Paradise Circle, Ghasmandi Crossroads, and other important junctions were implemented to avoid congestion.
Endowments principal secretary Shailaja Ramaiyer said, “Four to five lakh people visited the temple. We ensured all departments worked together and provided smooth arrangements. More than two lakh water bottles were distributed.”
As night fell, devotees took out the Palaharam Bandi processions, and amid drumbeats and music, they danced and prayed to Goddess Mahankali.
On Monday, the priests will conduct special rituals, and the historic “Rangam” prediction will be performed. Next Sunday, July 20, parts of Hyderabad, including Lal Darwaza and the Old City areas, will celebrate Bonalu.
