In Hyderabad, the vibrant Bonalu festival concluded in the Old City on Monday, marking the end of a month-long celebration dedicated to Goddess Mahankali during Ashada Masam. The festival ended with a lively procession filled with traditional ‘teen maar’ music and energetic folk dances. The event culminated with the immersion of ghatams at the Musi River near Nayapul.
The festival concluded with the renowned ‘Rangam’ predictions and the grand ‘Sri Mahankali Jatara’ procession. Organised by the Ummidi Devalayala Uregimpu Committee and the Sri Akkanna Madanna Temple Committee, the procession featured the Ghatam deity riding on a beautifully decorated elephant named Lakshmi from Karnataka. This marked their 77th annual procession.
Thousands of devotees gathered along the procession route, eager to see the dazzling array of ghatams and captivating folk performances. As the procession moved forward, people showered flowers from numerous stages set up along the way.
The vibrant dances by potharajus and other folk artists captivated the audience. Spectators lined the roadsides, watching the procession begin at Hari Bowli and wind its way through landmarks like the Maisamma Mahankali temple, Nehru Statue, Lal Darwaza, Shalibanda, Charminar, Pathergatti, and Madina, before reaching the Matha temple at Delhi Darwaza near the Musi river.
Early in the day, poojas began at several temples, attracting hundreds of devotees. At around 11 AM, the Pothuraju Swagatham ceremony took place, where Pothuraju blessed the area, believed to protect devotees from evil spirits.
Oracle Anuradha shared her predictions at the Sri Akkanna Madanna Mahankali Mandiram. During the ‘Rangam’, she stood on a mud pot, declaring her satisfaction with the poojas. She promised protection from evil for those who performed the rituals. She advised offering ‘Saka of neem leaves’, consuming jaggery and chickpeas for five weeks, and lighting Ganda Deepam at home.
Anuradha urged parents to guide their children away from bad habits. She noted that many were indulging in liquor and neglecting their parents, warning of consequences but offering protection for those lighting Ganda Deepam for five weeks.
The procession featured 25 ghatams from major temples, including Akkanna Madanna Mahankali Temple, Mateshwari Mutyalamma Temple, and others.
Since Telangana became a state in 2014, Bonalu has been celebrated as a state festival with great enthusiasm. Starting on June 26 at Golconda Fort, the festival concluded in the Old City on Monday.
To ensure safety during the two-day celebrations, city police implemented strict security measures. CCTV cameras were installed, and around 2,000 police personnel were deployed, including RAF, Traffic, Law and Order police, bomb squads, SHE teams, and Crime teams.
