Traditional fervour and gaiety marked the two-day Bonalu festival in the old city on Sunday. Celebrations began in the early hours of the day with special pujas at all major temples as devotees thronged to offer ‘bonam’.
Women make the offering of rice, jaggery and curd carried in steel and clay pots. Serpentine queues were witnessed at the historic Akkanna Madanna Mahankali temple at Shahalibanda and Simhavahini Mahankali temple in Lal Darwaza. Various other temples in Uppuguda, Aliabad, Gowlipura and Puranapul saw a huge rush of devotees.
The day was also marked by the appearance of ‘Potarajus’ who performed to the ever-present ‘teen maar’ beats.
Scores of people from various parts of the city descended on old city to take part in the celebrations. A small number of foreigners also joined the festivities.
Home Minister N. Nayani Narsimha Reddy, Bhartiya Janata Party State president G. Kishan Reddy, Nizamabad MP Kavitha, Hyderabad Police Commissioner M. Mahendar Reddy and other VIPs visited the Akkanna Madanna Mahankali temple and Simhavahini Mahankali temple to make the offerings.
Festival to conclude today
The festival would conclude on Monday with oracle prediction, ‘Rangam’ followed by a procession of a caparisoned elephant, carrying ‘ghatam’ of goddess Mahankali. The police have made elaborate security arrangements to prevent untoward incidents.
3,000 policemen to be deployed
Around 3,000 policemen will be deployed in the old city for the peaceful conduct of the Bonalu procession. Two Inspector Generals of Police, three Deputy Inspector Generals, a Deputy Commissioner of Police, 10 Additional DCPs, 20 ACPs along with Inspectors and other policemen are in charge of the security arrangement. Two companies of Rapid Action Force have also been deployed.
The main procession will begin from Akkanna Madanna temple at around 3 p.m. on Monday and pass through Shahalibanda, Charminar, Pathergatti and Nayapul before culminating at Musi river. Around 30 closed circuit cameras have been installed all along the procession route while 20 police teams will record the event.
Bomb detection teams, She Teams, anti-snatching teams and Quick Response Teams (QRTs) will also be deployed. Police pickets are also posted at sensitive locations to prevent any trouble.
Home Minister N. Nayani Narsimha Reddy, BJP State president G. Kishan Reddy and Nizamabad MP Kavitha visit Akkanna Madanna Mahankali temple
