Latest news with #AshadaMasam
Hans India
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hans India
Old City Bonalu wraps up on a high note with grand spectacle
Hyderabad: A month-long period of traditional AshadaMasam celebrations and worship of Goddess Mahankali culminated in the Old City on Monday, as the annual Bonalu festival concluded with a colourful procession. Amidst lively 'teen maar' band music and energetic dances by folk artists, the procession was followed by the immersion of ghatams on the banks of River Musi at Nayapul. The state festival concluded with the famous 'Rangam' predictions and a grand procession, the 'Sri Mahankali Jatara'. The annual procession was led by the Ummidi Devalayala Uregimpu Committee and the Sri Akkanna Madanna Temple Committee, with the Ghatam deity carried atop a decorated elephant named Lakshmi, brought from Karnataka. This marked their 77th annual procession. Thousands of devotees lined the procession route, eager to witness the glittering and colourful convoy of ghatams and the captivating performances by folk artists, which served as a central attraction. People welcomed the procession from numerous stages erected along the route, offering flowers as it passed. The mesmerising dances by potharajus and other folk artists enthralled the devotees. Spectators sat on both sides of the roads, witnessing the vibrant procession as it started from Hari Bowli, passed through Maisamma Mahankali temple in Bela, Nehru Statue, Lal Darwaza cross roads, Shalibanda, then through Charminar, Pathergatti, and Madina, before peacefully culminating at the Matha temple at Delhi Darwaza near the Musi river in Nayapul. The day's celebrations began with pooja in the early hours, with several hundreds of devotees participating in rituals at various temples across the city. Around 11 AM, the PothurajuSwagatham ceremony was organised. Pothuraju was seen moving around the areas surrounding the temple, bestowing blessings, believed to safeguard devotees from evil spirits. Rangam by Anuradha Expressing happiness with the poojas performed by the devotees, oracle Anuradha delivered her predictions. Standing on a specially prepared mud pot and invoking the presiding deity during the 'Rangam' at Sri Akkanna Madanna Mahankali Mandiram, Anuradha, in a trance, conveyed her contentment with the poojas performed during the Bonalu festival. 'It is my responsibility to take care of you all who have performed poojas. I will save you all from all evils,' she declared. 'Just offer 'Saka of neem leaves' and consume jaggery and chickpeas for five weeks, and also offer gandham during SravanaMasam. Also have Ganda Deepam in your homes. I will ensure your safety by standing in front of your doors.' The Oracle urged parents to ensure their children do not succumb to bad habits. She observed that she was seeing the entire world, noting, 'People are consuming liquor, not seeing parents as parents and they will have to face fate. But I will save them if they offer Ganda Deepam in their homes for five weeks and she will ensure all their diseases go.' A total of 25 ghatams from major temples were included in the procession, among them Akkanna Madanna Mahankali Temple, MateshwariMutyalamma Temple Bela, Bangaru Maisamma Temple Haribowli, Mahakaleshwar Temple Mir Alam Mandi, Kota Maisamma Temple Alijah Kotla, Bangaru Maisamma Temple Magar Ki Bowli, and Nalla Pochamma Temple Murad Mahal. Declared as a state festival after the formation of Telangana state in 2014, Bonalu is now celebrated on a large scale with pomp and gaiety. The festival, which began on 26 June from Golconda Fort, concluded with the Bonalu in Old City on Monday. The city police implemented tight security arrangements to ensure the smooth conduct of the two-day grand festivities. CCTV cameras were installed at the temple and surrounding areas. Approximately 2,000 police personnel were deployed, including units from the RAF (Rapid Action Force), Traffic police, Law and Order police, bomb squads, SHE teams, and Crime teams.
Time of India
08-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Huge demand for Kadambam prasadam at Shakambari festival in Kanaka Durga temple
Vijayawada: The three-day Shakambari festival at the Sri Kanaka Durga temple on Indrakeeladri began on a grand note drawing thousands of devotees. While the temple is beautifully adorned with tonnes of fresh vegetables, it is the Kadambam Prasadam that has become the biggest attraction for devotees visiting the temple. Prepared exclusively during the Shakambari festival, Kadambam Prasadam is a special offering made once a year during Ashada Masam. The dish, which resembles sambar rice, is made from a rich blend of rice, lentils, seasonal vegetables, pumpkin, cashew nuts, and premium cow ghee. Temple priest LD Prasad explained, "Shakambari Ammavaru is fond of vegetables. That is why the temple is decorated with various vegetables, and the prasadam offered is also full of vegetable goodness. Especially, the use of pumpkin and ghee gives it a divine taste." Typically, devotees line up for pulihora and laddu prasadams after darshan, but during this festival, Kadambam takes centre stage, with many devotees queuing exclusively for it. On the first day alone, temple authorities distributed nearly one tonne of Kadambam prasadam. Devotees from across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are thronging the temple, and many are carrying boxes of Kadambam back home as a sacred and delicious memory of the goddess. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like An engineer reveals: One simple trick to get internet without a subscription Techno Mag Learn More Undo "We came here for the past 10 years. The taste of this prasad cannot be replicated at home, even with the same ingredients," said K. Shruthi, a devotee from Khammam. Temple executive officer Seena Nayak assured that the prasadam is prepared in hygienic conditions and distributed with great care. He added that efforts are being made to provide the prasadam to as many devotees as possible during the three-day festival. "Satisfaction of devotees is our priority. We are taking measures to provide Kadambam prasadam free of cost to devotees," EO Nayak said.
Hans India
02-07-2025
- General
- Hans India
Thousands witness celestial wedding of Renuka Yellamma at Balkampet
Hyderabad: The celestial Kalyanotsavam of Sri Renuka Yellamma Ammavaru at Balkampet was grandly held on Tuesday. The Kalyanam was held at 11.55 am. The Endowments Minister Konda Surekha offered silk clothes to the goddesses. Kalyanam is orgainsed on the first Tuesday of Ashada Masam. The devotees were lined up before the temple from 5 am on Tuesday. The temple authorities organised queue lines and VIP entries. A large number of devotees and Shiva Sattulu thronged to the temple premises to witness the wedding. The rush was so huge that it took five hours for the devotees to have darshan. The Kalyanotsavam are taken up for three days. On the first day there will be 'Edurukolu', Kalyanam on second day and Rathotsavam on the third day. Minister Konda Surekha said that Balkampet Yellamma is the deity who relieves the sufferings of the people of Hyderabad. She reminded that there was a buzz of Bonalu in the areas around Hyderabad during the month of Ashadham. The minister said that the Bonalu culture came during a time when a pandemic was raging here in the past. It is the belief of the people here that when a disaster struck the great city of Hyderabad and hundreds of people were dying, Balkampet Yellamma saved the lives of many people by protecting them. She said that the Bonalu festival has become a great celebration for the people here. The Minister said that this time, the government led by CM A Revanth Reddy allocated Rs 20 crores and ensured that there was no problem anywhere. He reminded that lakhs of devotees come to see the goddess every year... All arrangements have been made for that. She said that she was very lucky to have the opportunity to offer silk clothes to the goddess on behalf of the state government. She prayed to the goddess for good rains and good health for the crops. The traffic police imposed traffic restricts on the Balkampet road. The city police commissioner CV Anand supervised the arrangements. He inspected the control room and cctv surveillance center and accessed overall preparedness to ensure effective crowd management and public safety. Hyderabad In-charge Minister Ponnam Prabhakar, Rajya Sabha member Anil Kumar Yadav, City Mayor Gadwala Vijayalakshmi, Hyderabad Collector Hari Chandana and others participated in this program.
New Indian Express
30-06-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
Hyderabad devotees offer Golden Bonam to Goddess Durga
VIJAYAWADA: On the auspicious occasion of Ashada Masam, the Bhagyanagar Ummadi Devalaya Committee from Hyderabad offered Bonams, including a Golden Bonam, to Goddess Sri Kanaka Durga at Indrakeeladri on Sunday. Continuing their annual tradition, the committee arrived with a grand procession featuring traditional dances and music, accompanied by hundreds of devotees. The Bonam, a sacred offering made in a pot containing rice, jaggery, curd, and other ingredients, was presented to the Goddess with devotion. Endowments Minister Anam Rama Narayana Reddy and Durga Temple Executive Officer VK Seena Naik welcomed the committee and facilitated a special darshan of the Goddess. The Golden Bonam was offered by the hands of the Minister and temple priests. Around 500 devotees participated in the sacred event, seeking the well-being and prosperity of the Telugu people. Meanwhile, thousands of devotees thronged the temple. Due to the heavy turnout, the Rs 500 special darshan was cancelled. Devotees offering Ashada Sare received Vedasirvachanam and prasadam. Rituals like Suryopasana, Chandi Homam, and Laksha Kunkumarchana were also performed.
Hans India
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hans India
Bonalu: Telangana's roaring assertion of identity, resilience, and unbroken tradition
Hyderabad: As the blistering sun of Ashada Masam bears down on Telangana, the lanes of Hyderabad, Secunderabad, and smaller towns across the state erupt in vibrant colour, thunderous drumbeats, and intoxicating devotion. Bonalu, a centuries-old celebration dedicated to Goddess Mahankali, returns each year with uncontainable spiritual intensity and cultural pride. This is not merely a festival—it is an explosion of Telangana's collective memory, spirit, and soul. Rooted in history and born of belief, Bonalu traces back to the 19th Century, when plague haunted Hyderabad. In desperation, soldiers posted in Ujjain prayed to the powerful Goddess Mahankali to save their families back home. They vowed to offer her 'Bonam'—a meal of rice cooked with jaggery, curd, and spices served in decorated brass pots—if their wish was fulfilled. Miraculously, the plague faded, and the vow birthed what is now one of Telangana's grandest festivals. From early July, women dressed in shimmering saris carry the sacred Bonam pots on their heads, often balancing neem leaves and a burning lamp atop them. Their processions are flanked by Pothurajus—bare-bodied, turmeric-smeared guardians who stomp and twirl in warrior-like frenzy to protect the devotees. Temples are decked in lights, and city streets become live canvases of devotion as drummers, dancers, and onlookers surge forward in celebration. Each Sunday of Ashada month marks a new phase, culminating in the final grand procession from Lal Darwaza and Ujjaini Mahankali temples. The immersion of the goddess's idol marks the end, but not without echoing chants, swirling smoke, and a collective promise to welcome her again next year. Bonalu, thus, is not just worship—it is Telangana's roaring assertion of identity, resilience, and unbroken tradition.
