Travelling all the way from Hyderabad, close to 250 devotees, including women, offered traditional ‘bonam’ to goddess Sri Kanaka Durga atop Indrakeeladri on Sunday.
Though this practice is a decade-old, it bears significance this time in the wake of the bifurcation of the State.
“It was like a home away from home. People here accorded us a warm reception and the temple management helped us offer bonam and pattu vastralu to the deity. We are overwhelmed by their warmth,” P. Ramu Yadav, Chairman of Hyderabad’s Old City Ummadi Devalayala Uregimpu Committee, said.
Devotees took out a procession from Brahmanaveedi to the temple premises with ‘potharajus’ dancing to the rhythmic drum beats by smearing vermilion and turmeric on their faces – drawing the attention of all and sundry.
They went around the lanes and bylanes of the temple and offered ‘bonam’ made of rice, jaggery and curd. Folk artistes transformed themselves into demons and goddesses.
‘Ghatam’, a pot made of copper and silver, decorated in the form of goddess, was also carried during the procession.
The temple management provided accommodation, food to devotees and made their stay comfortable. “The cooperation from officials was overwhelming,” Mr. Yadav said.
“We have been organising this event here for the past 10 years with an aim to make people in this region familiar with the culture and traditions in Telangana,” he said.
Devotees came to Vijayawada in two buses and 15 cars.
