metro india news  I hyderabad

Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, Union Minister for Coal and Mines G Kishan Reddy, and several other leaders offered prayers at the Ujjaini Mahakali temple in Secunderabad on Sunday on the occasion of the Ashadha Bonalu festival.

The Chief Minister presented silk clothes to the Goddess, while Endowments Minister Konda Surekha offered the traditional bonam, sources said. Kishan Reddy and his wife also offered bonam—a traditional meal—to Goddess Mahakali.Bonalu is a major folk festival celebrated during the Hindu month of Ashadha.

As part of the ritual, women cook rice with milk and jaggery in new earthen or brass pots, which are decorated with neem leaves, turmeric, and vermilion. These pots are carried on their heads and offered to the Goddess at temples, along with bangles and sarees.

Ministers Konda Surekha, Ponnam Prabhakar and Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, MP Anil Kumar Yadav and other elected representatives,  presented silk clothes to the Goddess Ujjaini Mahakali and offered the bonam to the deity. The temple rituals commenced at 4 AM that morning, with Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar conducting the inaugural puja and offering the bonam on behalf of the government. Following this, regular devotees were permitted to have darshan of the Goddess. Chief Minister Revanth Reddy arrived at the temple at 11 AM, where silk clothes were presented to the Goddess, and additional special pujas were conducted.

Various dignitaries, including Union Minister Kishan Reddy, Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatreya, BJP MP Eatala Rajender, BRS MLA Talasani Srinivasa Yadav, and others, also visited the temple to perform special pujas.

Meanwhile, thousands of devotees, predominantly women, gathered at the Ujjaini Mahankali temple to take part in the Bonalu celebrations.  Despite the large crowds and delays caused by VVIP visits, the temple was vibrant with lively festivities beginning early in the morning.

Dressed in their finest attire and carrying 'bonams' on their heads, women from all over Secunderabad flocked to the historic Ujjaini Mahankali temple for the Lashkar Bonalu events. The streets of Secunderabad, particularly around General Bazar and the Monday market, were filled with the lively colors and sounds of the Bonalu celebration. The rhythmic beats of traditional drums (dappulu) resonated through the air, matching the spirited movements of the Potharajus as everyone made their way to the sacred temple.

Beginning at 3 AM on Sunday, hundreds of women began arriving at the temple with the intent to offer their Bonams to the Goddess and seek her blessings for their families' prosperity. The organisers made sure to provide separate and multiple queue lines at the temple for women worshippers, making it easier for them to present their offerings to the Goddess.

On the other hand, the authorities made elaborate arrangements for the smooth conduct of Bonalu festival at the temple. Two queue lines have been set up specifically for devotees coming to offer Bonalu. Shiva sattu devotees have been allowed entry from RP Road and Bata Showroom from 1 PM to 3 PM. Parking facilities have been set up on various routes for devotees to reach the temple. Tight arrangements have been made to ensure that the Secunderabad Bonalu festival takes place in a peaceful atmosphere. The police have maintained tight security for the Bonalu.

Around 2,500 police personnel were deployed on duty. The law and order, She teams and task force wings of the police department participated in the security. A total of 200 CCTV cameras have been specially installed in around the temple to ensure the smooth conduct of Bonalu festival.