Hyderabad: The stage set for the commencement of colourful Ashadam Bonalu festival from July 16 to August 10 in twin cities.
The celebrations will begin at Sri Jagadamba Mahankali temple atop the historic Golconda fort on July 16. The main festival will be organized at Sri Ujjaini Mahankali temple in Secunderabad on August 2 and 3 and it will conclude at Sri Simhavahini Mahankali temple in Lal Darwaza and Sri Akkanna Madanna temple in Haribowli on August 10 with processions from the temples to Musi River near Afzalgunj.
The State government has made elaborate arrangements in coordination with all departments to conduct the festival, which symbolizes the spiritual and cultural heritage of Telangana, with great grandeur and devotion.
The government has released Rs.15.05 crore for 3,427 temples within the limits of the old GHMC area for the Bonalu festival.
During Bonalu, the State government will traditionally offer silk clothes at nearly 30 major temples across the city, including Golconda Sri Jagadamba Mahankali temple, Chilkalaguda Sri Ujjaini Mahankali temple and Katta Maisamma-Pochamma, Haribowli Akkanna-Madanna temple, Karwan Darbar Maisamma, Lal Darwaza Sri Simhavahini Mahankali, Charminar Sri Bhagyalakshmi Ammavari temple, and Mir Alam Mandi Sri Mahankali temple.
Ministers and officials will participate in these offerings. Women clad in pattu saris will offer ‘bonam’ containing cooked rice laced with jaggery in a pot decorated with vermillion and turmeric coupled with neem leaves.
A procession of “phalaharam bandi” will be organized by the local youth with “potharajus” smeared with turmeric and vermillion paste dancing to the pulsating teem maar beats in front during the celebrations in the evening.
Rangam ritual, which is one of the most distinctive rituals associated with the Bonalu festival, will be performed the next day. Traditionally held in the morning following the principal celebrations, it is regarded as a ceremonial oracle through which devotees seek divine guidance and blessings from Goddess Mahankali.
Standing on a wet earthen pot in the temple, the lady oracle would perform the ritual predicting the future of the State. Endowments Minister Konda Surekh, Backward Classes Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar, who is also Hyderabad incharge Minister, already reviewed the arrangements to be made for the smooth conduct of the festival.
During the review meeting, Prabhakar said that Bonalu is a symbol of Telangana’s culture and traditions and appealed to devotees to follow the instructions of the police and government departments to ensure that the celebrations are conducted peacefully.
He emphasized that the State government’s objective is to provide every devotee with a safe and comfortable darshan experience. The minister instructed officials to remain vigilant, drawing from past experience, so that devotees attending the Bonalu festival do not face any difficulties.
Timeline
July 16: Bonalu celebrations will begin at Sri Jagadamba Mahankali Temple, Golconda
July 20, 21, and 22: Balkampet Yellamma Kalyanotsavam celebrations:
Aug 2: Bonalu at Sri Ujjaini Mahankali Temple, Secunderabad.
Aug 3: Rangam ceremony.
Aug 9: Bonalu at Sri Simhavahini Ammavari Temple in Lal Darwaza
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: deccanchronicle.com
