Streets of Old City all set to come alive with 2-day Bonalu festivities
In anticipation of the Bonalu festivities in the Old City, the Akkanna Madanna Mahankali Mandiram has made comprehensive arrangements for the successful conduct of the festival. Lakshmi, an elephant belonging to Sri Karibasava Swamy Mutt at Horapete in Tumkur, Karnataka, will participate, carrying the Ghatam in the Old City Bonalu Procession. Notably, the elephant recently carried Bibi-ka-Alam in the Moharram procession.
Bonalu is celebrated in the month of Ashada, typically falling around July-August. It is primarily a commemoration of the Goddess, to appease her and express gratitude for fulfilled wishes. Alongside Yellamma, other forms of the Goddess such as Maisamma, Pochamma, Peddamma, Dokkalamma, Ankalamma, Poleramma, Maremma, and Nookalamma are worshipped during this period.
For this year's celebrations, the temple committee is coordinating all arrangements with the assistance of the Police, GHMC, Endowment Department, Electricity, HMWSSB, R&B, Forest, and other government departments to ensure large-scale festivities and a grand procession, which is scheduled for 21 July.
According to the committee, steps have been taken to ensure devotees from the twin cities and neighbouring districts visiting the temple for blessings can have Darshan of Matha without inconvenience. While other arrangements proceeded smoothly, there was initial anxiety among devotees regarding the elephant's participation with the Matha Ghatam in the procession.
'The elephant will participate in the Bonalu procession of Sri Nalla Pochamma Temple, Sabzimandi, on Sunday (20 July) and on Monday (21 July) in the Old City Bonalu Procession of Sri Akkanna Madanna Mahankali Mandiram,' informed SP Kranti Kumar, Temple Committee Organising Secretary.
The Bonalu festival commenced earlier this month with MaahaAbhishekam to Sri Mahankali Matha and Kalasha Sthapana, followed by Dwajarohana. It will conclude on 21 July, after the PotharajuSwagatham and Rangam, when the Matha Ghatam will be taken out in a procession on a fully decorated elephant, Lakshmi. The 11-day festival officially ends on 22 July with 'AshthadalaPhadapadmaradhanPavithrosthavam'.
Meanwhile, the Simhavahini Sri Mahankali Temple in Lal Darwaza, Old City, has also made all necessary arrangements for the festival. Temple committee member K Venkatesh stated that the temple annually witnesses a large congregation of devotees, and arrangements are in place with the help of various departments. 'These Bonalu festivities witness a congregation of devotees not only from the City, but from across neighbouring states including Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra and also Tamil Nadu. Hence, we are ensuring all the arrangements are in place,' he said.
Venkatesh added, 'The tradition of Lal Darwaza Bonalu celebrations began during the time of Nizam VI Mir Mahboob Ali Khan. This year the celebrations will complete 117 years. History shows that many kings, politicians and ministers offered silk garments and jewellery to the goddess. The tradition of presenting silk robes to the goddess on behalf of the government is being continued.'
On Friday, Hyderabad district collector Harichandana, along with other officers, visited the Lal Darwaza temple. They reviewed the security and traffic arrangements being made for the Bonalu festival, which will be held on Sunday.
Police officials have coordinated with several other departments, including endowments, revenue, electricity, waterworks, R&B, and GHMC, to ensure the smooth conduct of the festival.
A review was conducted on arrangements for law and order, traffic, queue lines for devotees, medical facilities, barricading, media points, electricity, and water supply. All concerned departments were instructed to make appropriate arrangements to prevent any inconvenience to devotees.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
a day ago
- The Hindu
Awareness campaigns, rallies held against use of plastic
District administrations on Saturday conducted awareness campaigns on cleanliness with the theme 'Ending Plastic Pollution' as part of 'Swarnandhra-Swacchandhra' drive in the State. In Nandyal district, Minister for Minority Welfare N. Md. Farooq, Collector Rajakumari Gania and officials took part in an awareness campaign in the town. Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Gania urged the people from village to district level to maintain their surroundings to achieve 'Swarnandhra-Swacchandhra'. 'Every individual should stop using plastic bags and disposables. People whose livelihood is dependent on making plastic items should be encouraged to manufacture jute and paper bags and everyone should use these products to curb extensive use of plastic,' the Collector said. The Collector along with the Minister went around the town creating awareness about the ill-effects of plastic and also participated in a drive to clean the streets. In Anantapur, District Collector Vinod Kumar V. led a rally in Bondalavada village of Narpala mandal to create awareness among the villagers on the ill-effects of plastic and urged them to keep the village clean. Speaking on the occasion, he said that single use plastic has already been banned in Anantapur Municipal limits and the same will be implemented in villages too. He said they have started the process of disposing off the garbage in the Anantapur town and soon the entire district will be made Swachh Anantapur. Mr. Kumar said that as part of ban on single use plastic, they have stopped using plastic water bottles in the Collectorate too. Anantapur Urban MLA Daggupati Venkateswara Prasad led a rally in the town to create awareness against usage of plastic. The aim is to make the city plastic-free, he said, adding that they will promote use of cloth bags in a big way. Later, he distributed jute bags. In Kurnool, police personnel across the district took cleanliness drive in the police station premises on the instructions of Superintendent of Police Vikrant Patel. The SP said that keeping the surroundings clean is the responsibility of each and every individual.
Hans India
a day ago
- Hans India
Streets of Old City all set to come alive with 2-day Bonalu festivities
Hyderabad: The 400-year-old Sri Akkanna-Madanna Mahankali Mandiram is set to celebrate its 77th annual Bonalu and Mahankali Jathara festival on a grand scale this year. The temple, situated at Hari Bowli in Shalibanda, holds significant historical importance and has been the starting point of the annual Bonalu procession for over seven decades. In anticipation of the Bonalu festivities in the Old City, the Akkanna Madanna Mahankali Mandiram has made comprehensive arrangements for the successful conduct of the festival. Lakshmi, an elephant belonging to Sri Karibasava Swamy Mutt at Horapete in Tumkur, Karnataka, will participate, carrying the Ghatam in the Old City Bonalu Procession. Notably, the elephant recently carried Bibi-ka-Alam in the Moharram procession. Bonalu is celebrated in the month of Ashada, typically falling around July-August. It is primarily a commemoration of the Goddess, to appease her and express gratitude for fulfilled wishes. Alongside Yellamma, other forms of the Goddess such as Maisamma, Pochamma, Peddamma, Dokkalamma, Ankalamma, Poleramma, Maremma, and Nookalamma are worshipped during this period. For this year's celebrations, the temple committee is coordinating all arrangements with the assistance of the Police, GHMC, Endowment Department, Electricity, HMWSSB, R&B, Forest, and other government departments to ensure large-scale festivities and a grand procession, which is scheduled for 21 July. According to the committee, steps have been taken to ensure devotees from the twin cities and neighbouring districts visiting the temple for blessings can have Darshan of Matha without inconvenience. While other arrangements proceeded smoothly, there was initial anxiety among devotees regarding the elephant's participation with the Matha Ghatam in the procession. 'The elephant will participate in the Bonalu procession of Sri Nalla Pochamma Temple, Sabzimandi, on Sunday (20 July) and on Monday (21 July) in the Old City Bonalu Procession of Sri Akkanna Madanna Mahankali Mandiram,' informed SP Kranti Kumar, Temple Committee Organising Secretary. The Bonalu festival commenced earlier this month with MaahaAbhishekam to Sri Mahankali Matha and Kalasha Sthapana, followed by Dwajarohana. It will conclude on 21 July, after the PotharajuSwagatham and Rangam, when the Matha Ghatam will be taken out in a procession on a fully decorated elephant, Lakshmi. The 11-day festival officially ends on 22 July with 'AshthadalaPhadapadmaradhanPavithrosthavam'. Meanwhile, the Simhavahini Sri Mahankali Temple in Lal Darwaza, Old City, has also made all necessary arrangements for the festival. Temple committee member K Venkatesh stated that the temple annually witnesses a large congregation of devotees, and arrangements are in place with the help of various departments. 'These Bonalu festivities witness a congregation of devotees not only from the City, but from across neighbouring states including Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra and also Tamil Nadu. Hence, we are ensuring all the arrangements are in place,' he said. Venkatesh added, 'The tradition of Lal Darwaza Bonalu celebrations began during the time of Nizam VI Mir Mahboob Ali Khan. This year the celebrations will complete 117 years. History shows that many kings, politicians and ministers offered silk garments and jewellery to the goddess. The tradition of presenting silk robes to the goddess on behalf of the government is being continued.' On Friday, Hyderabad district collector Harichandana, along with other officers, visited the Lal Darwaza temple. They reviewed the security and traffic arrangements being made for the Bonalu festival, which will be held on Sunday. Police officials have coordinated with several other departments, including endowments, revenue, electricity, waterworks, R&B, and GHMC, to ensure the smooth conduct of the festival. A review was conducted on arrangements for law and order, traffic, queue lines for devotees, medical facilities, barricading, media points, electricity, and water supply. All concerned departments were instructed to make appropriate arrangements to prevent any inconvenience to devotees.
Hans India
2 days ago
- Hans India
MLA Vijayudu Offers Special Prayers at Sri Jogulamba and Bala Brahmeshwara Temples on Auspicious Ashada Friday
Gadwal: On the occasion of the last Friday of the holy month of Ashada, Alampur MLA Vijayudu visited the renowned Sri Jogulamba and Sri Bala Brahmeshwara Swamy temples in Alampur and offered prayers to the deities. The visit drew the attention of devotees and temple authorities as it coincided with the special Shakambari Devi Alankaram being performed for Goddess Jogulamba, a highly revered form of the Goddess during this auspicious period. Upon arrival at the temple, the MLA was warmly welcomed by temple authorities and priests with traditional temple honors. As part of the ceremonial proceedings, he participated in special pujas and rituals dedicated to Goddess Jogulamba and Lord Bala Brahmeshwara Swamy. The priests performed rituals according to temple traditions and later honored the MLA with Sesha Vastram (holy cloth) and offered him Teertha Prasadam as blessings from the deities. In a gesture of devotion and goodwill, MLA Vijayudu also distributed prasadam to the devotees present at the temple premises, sharing the spiritual blessings of the occasion with the general public. The event saw the participation of BRS party leaders, local activists, and devotees, who accompanied the MLA during the darshan and rituals. The visit highlighted the MLA's continued spiritual connection with the ancient temples of Alampur and his engagement with the local religious and cultural activities of the constituency. The Jogulamba temple, one of the Ashta Dasha Shakti Peethas in the country, holds immense religious significance, especially during Ashada Fridays when thousands of devotees flock to receive divine blessings.
