The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Golconda Bonalu fete begins

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jul 07, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Golconda Bonalu fete begins

Staff Reporter

Prayers offered at Sri Jagdamba Mahankali temple atop fort

— Photo: Mohd. Yousuf

TRADITION CONTINUES: Women dance as they carry the traditional ‘bonam’ at Golconda Fort during the Bonalu festival on Sunday.

HYDERABAD: Golconda ‘Bonalu’, the first in the month-long series of the annual Bonalu festivities in the twin cities got-off to a start at Sri Jagdamba Mahankali temple atop the Golconda Fort with religious fervour and gaiety on Sunday.

BC Welfare Minister M. Mukesh Goud and Secunderabad MP M. Anjan Kumar Yadav offered prayers and presented ‘pattu vastraalu’ on behalf of the State government. Devotees later took out a procession from Langer Houz crossroads to the temple and offered ‘bonam’, containing cooked rice mixed with jaggery in a pot and along with neem leaves and ‘saka’ (pure water).

Potharajus smeared with vermilion and turmeric were cynosure of all eyes as they danced to the pulsating ‘teenmar’ drumbeats along with devotees. Temple Trust Board Chairman S. Muthyam Reddy said that celebrations would continue on Sundays and Thursdays till August 3. Police made elaborate arrangements for smooth conduct of the procession.

Akkanna Madanna temple

Meanwhile preparations for the Bonalu festival and Mahankali Jatara were underway at old city’s famed ‘Akkanna Madanna Mahankali Mandiram’.

Addressing a press conference on Sunday, G. Niranjan, president of the temple committee, said the celebrations would start with a Maha Abhishekam on July 18 and continue till July 28.

A procession carrying the ‘Matha Ghatam’ would start from Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Shalibanda for installation at Akkanna Madanna Mahankali Temple on July 20, where devotees will offer prayers everyday, said Mr. Niranjan. The celebrations will conclude on July 28 with ‘Rangam’, ‘Potharaju Swagatham’ and a procession.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Andhra Pradesh