The Bonalu festivities to coincide with the commencement of Ashadam took off at Golconda on Sunday.
Deputy Chief Minister Mohammed Mahmood Ali and Ministers Nayini Narasimha Reddy, A. Indrakaran Reddy and T. Srinivas Yadav performed pooja to the float that was carried in a procession from Langar Houz. Silk clothes were presented by them on behalf of the government to the deity at the temple at Golconda Fort where the procession culminated. The stairs to go up the fort were smeared with turmeric and vermilion powder. The Bonalu festivities would be held in different parts of the city from now on. They would reach the peak with the celebrations at Ujjaini Mahankali temple in Secunderabad on July 29 and 30 and Lal Darwaza temple a week thereafter.
