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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.
New Indian Express
21-07-2025
- New Indian Express
Lal Darwaza drenched in devotion
HYDERABAD: A sea of devotees swept through the historic lanes of Lal Darwaza on Sunday as the Bonalu festival unfolded in full splendour. The Simhavahini Mahankali temple became the epicentre of devotion, with thousands, mostly women in colourful attire, offering Bonam to the goddess. The rhythmic beat of dappu drums pulsed through the Old City as thousands joined to seek blessings and offer prayers. To manage the surge, temple authorities set up special lanes for devotees, while over 2,500 police personnel, including RPF, special branch and RAF, were deployed. CCTV cameras monitored key locations, and liquor outlets were shut for the day. Neighbourhoods around Lal Darwaza — Hari Bowli, Sultan Shahi, Bela and Sabzi Mandi — were decked out in LEDs, adding to the festive air. The final leg of Bonalu in the Ashada Masam will conclude with the 'Rangam' and 'Ghatam' rituals, including oracles and processions through Charminar to the Musi river.
Time of India
21-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
High on beats & Belief: Bonalu culminates in colourful finale at Lal Darwaza; CM Revanth Reddy hails Telangana's cultural spirit
HYDERABAD: The final phase of Bonalu celebrations at the historic Lal Darwaza Mahankali temple in Old City concluded on Sunday, drawing thousands of devotees. Carrying decorated pots filled with cooked rice, jaggery, curd, and turmeric water, devotees thronged the temple lanes to offer prayers, accompanied by drum beats, chants, and colourful processions, marking the end of the Ashadam Bonalu. Chief minister Revanth Reddy hailed the smooth conduct of the month-long festivities, calling Bonalu a true reflection of Telangana's spiritual and cultural essence. You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad Deputy CM Bhatti Vikramarka offered silk garments to the goddess on behalf of the state and highlighted the allocation of Rs 1,290 crore from the Common Good Fund for temple development, including Rs 20 crore for Bonalu in Greater Hyderabad. IT and industries minister D Sridhar Babu noted that 2,783 temples received direct financial support for Bonalu-related initiatives. The celebrations will conclude on Monday with 'Rangam', the traditional oracle ritual at Akkanna Madanna temple, followed by a grand procession featuring the 'ghatam' of Goddess Mahankali on a decorated elephant.
Hans India
20-07-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Gaiety marks Bonalu celebrations in Hyderabad
Hyderabad: The annual 'Bonalu' festival was celebrated in Hyderabad on Sunday in a traditional manner with thousands of devotees participating in the festivities. Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and state ministers were among prominent personalities who offered prayers at the Mahankali temples in the old city of Hyderabad. Deputy Chief Minister Vikramarka and Ministers Ponnam Prabhakar, Vakati Srihari and Komatireddy Venkat Reddy offered silk robes to the deity on behalf of the state government at Simhavahini Mahankali temple at Lal Darwaza. The Deputy CM said they prayed for the development of the state and prosperity, and happiness for people. Former Haryana governor Bandaru Dattatreya, BJP MP K. Laxman, MLA D. Nagender, BRS MLC K. Kavitha, BJP leader Madhavi Latha, Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) chairman B. R. Naidu, were among prominent personalities who offered prayers at Mahankali Temple Lal Darwaza, the historic Akkanna Madanna temple at Hari Bowli in Shah Ali Banda and other temples to the deity in different parts of the city. The festival dedicated to the Hindu goddess of power, Mahankali or Kali, is intended to ward off evil and usher in peace. Union Minister for Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy offered prayers at the Mahankali temple in Amberpet. Devotees, including a large number of women, queued up at the temples to offer Bonalu, which consists of cooked rice, jaggery, curd and turmeric water, carried in steel and clay pots on their heads. Declared as the state festival after the creation of Telangana state in 2014, Bonalu is being celebrated on a large scale with pomp and gaiety. Various government departments have made all necessary arrangements for the devotees visiting the temples, like drinking water, sanitation, roads and uninterrupted power supply. Police made elaborate security arrangements for the festival. About 1,200 policemen were deployed around the Lal Darwaza temple. The two-day festivities will conclude on Monday with 'Rangam', the oracle prediction at Akkanna Madanna temple, followed by a combined procession on a caparisoned elephant, carrying 'ghatam' of the goddess Mahankali. The procession will pass through the main thoroughfares of the old city, including historic Charminar, before reaching Delhi Darwaza Matha Temple near Musi River, where the ghatam will be immersed. Authorities ordered the closure of liquor shops, bars, restaurants and toddy outlets in Hyderabad, Cyberabad and Rachakonda Commissionerates in view of the festival. Bonalu is celebrated in parts of Hyderabad and Secunderabad during the Ashadam month. Also known as Ashada Jatra Utsavalu, it is celebrated on four Sundays in different places in the twin cities. Last Sunday, it was celebrated in Secunderabad, where Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy made the offering. It is believed that the festival was first celebrated over 150 years ago following a major cholera outbreak. People believed that the epidemic was due to the anger of Mahankali and began offering Bonalu to placate her.
New Indian Express
20-07-2025
- New Indian Express
Mahankali temples decked up for Boanlu
HYDERABAD: All Mahankali temples in the city are set to celebrate Bonalu on a grand scale on Sunday. Temples have been decked with vibrant colours and lights. The main festivities will take place at the iconic Simhavahini Mahankali Temple in Lal Darwaza, the historic Akkanna Madanna Mahankali Temple at Hari Bowli in Shah Ali Banda, and several other temples across the Old City. Elaborate security arrangements have been put in place at all major Mahankali temples. Last week, Secunderabad witnessed large-scale Bonalu celebrations. Several ministers, including Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar, will offer Pattu Vastralu (silk robes) to the goddess on behalf of the state government. Temple committees are making arrangements for separate queues for women to offer Bonam — a pot of cooked rice, jaggery, curd, and neem leaves — in a smooth and hassle-free manner. The festivities will conclude on Monday with the traditional oracle prediction (Rangam) at 1 pm at the Akkanna Madanna temple, followed by a grand procession featuring caparisoned elephants carrying the goddess Mahankali's Ghatams. The procession will pass through Bela, Sudha Talkies, Nehru Statue, Lal Darwaza X Road, Shalibanda, Charminar, Gulzar House, Pathergatti, Madina, and culminate at the Mahankali Temple near the Musi river at Nayapul by around 8 pm. The Hyderabad Traffic police have issued an advisory with diversions across the Old City and other key locations on July 20 and 21 to ensure smooth traffic flow and the safety of devotees.
