Secunderabad: Politicians, common folk celebrate Ujjaini Mahakali Bonalu with special poojas, colourful offerings

Hyderabad: The Ujjaini Mahakali Bonalu festival in Secunderabad, Telangana, commenced with great pomp and splendour. Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao and his wife, K Shobha, visited the temple, made offerings to the deity and participated in a special pooja at the temple. Following the customary rituals, the chief minister presented a silk saree as an offering to the Goddess.

Earlier on Sunday morning, the minister of Animal Husbandry and Fisheries, Talasani Srinivas Yadav, representing the government, performed the first pooja at 3.30 am and presented silk clothes and bonam (a special offering) to the Goddess. Accompanied by his family, Talasani conducted a special pooja at the Ammavari temple. Devotees eagerly lined up from early morning to offer bonam and prayers to Goddess Mahankali.

On the occasion, Talasani said, “I am extremely pleased to witness the grand celebration of Bonalu Utsavam in Telangana. Ever since the formation of our state, the festival has gained tremendous significance. Thanks to the visionary leadership of chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao, Bonalu has been recognised as a state festival.”

He added, “Our government is committed to supporting the temples financially to ensure the grandeur of Bonalu. It fills me with pride to say that Telangana is the only state providing financial assistance to both government-owned and privately-run temples. We aim to organise these festivals with utmost splendour and uphold our cultural traditions. The Ghatala procession, Potaraju’s vinyasas, and field programs will continue for two days.”

Ujjaini Bonalu

The Bonalu festival, celebrated with devotion by the people of Telangana, filled the entire city of Hyderabad with enthusiasm. The month of Ashada witnesses the vibrant celebration of Bonalu, with women carrying bonam and colourful processions of poturajus’ vinyasas. Secunderabad hosts the Ashadamasa Bonalu festival with great grandeur.

MLC K Kavitha offers Bonam

MLC K Kavitha also took part in the festivities, offering Bangaru Bonam to the Mother Goddess at Sri Ujjaini Mahankali Devasthnam. She walked to the temple along with numerous women from Audiah Nagar and offered Bonam and prayers. Kavitha prayed for the well-being of the state and expressed her hopes for the safety of people in flood-affected areas.

BJP state president offers Bonam

Union Minister Kishan Reddy, who recently became the state president of the BJP, visited Ujjain’s Mahankali Goddess. He, along with his family, received a warm welcome from officials and performed a special pooja after offering bonam to the Goddess.

TPCC state president extends wishes

TPCC President Revanth Reddy extended heartfelt greetings to the people of Telangana on the occasion of the Mahankali Ammavari Bonalu festival in Secunderabad Ujjain. He wished for the blessings of the Goddess to be upon the people of Telangana in all aspects of life.

Facilities

To facilitate the convenience of devotees, a total of six queues have been set up for those visiting the temple. Special buses have been arranged by the RTC in Hyderabad and Secunderabad. Around 150 buses are operating to transport devotees to the Bonalu locations. City buses have also been diverted from 19 places to the festival venues.