Hyderabad: Hyderabad’s Old City erupted in colour and devotion, as the grand Ashada Bonalu festival took place at the Lal Darwaza Simhavahini Mahankali Temple. Following last week’s Secunderabad Bonalu, which was concluded at the Ujjaini Mahankali Temple, the festivities shifted to Hyderabad, drawing thousands of devotees to temples across Hyderabad.Early in the morning, temple priests conducted special rituals to the deity, after which devotees began offering Bonam to the Goddess. The Bonam includes rice, milk, jaggery and tamarind soup, and is carried by the devotees in earthen or brass pots on their head to the deity.The lanes around Lal Darwaza were lit with colourful LEDs. Temple authorities organised special queue systems to manage the crowds, ensuring smooth offerings and darshan.Political figures lined up at the temple and took the Goddess’ blessings. Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka, ministers Ponnam Prabhakar and Vakiti Srihari, MPs Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy and Anil Kumar Yadav offered silk garments to the deity.Union minister Kishan Reddy, along with Union minister of state Bandi Sanjay, MP D.K. Aruna, former governor Bandaru Dattatreya and several other political leaders also visited the Lal Darwaza temple.Speaking at the temple, Sanjay said, “Temple organisers in Old City have to beg the government for money to organise festivals. If the BJP comes into power, we will allocate funds to every temple in Old City to organise and celebrate festivals in a grand manner”He said political parties in the city are fighting over protocol. “One leader comes up and says they weren’t given aarti, while another comes up and says they weren’t given a grand welcome,” he remarked.Other temples celebrated Bonalu grandly. The Akkanna Madanna Mahankali temple at Shali Banda, Amberpet’s Mahankali temple, Mahankaleshwara temple at Mir Alam Mandi, Aliabad’s Darbar Maisamma temple and several other temples saw thousands of devotees holding Bonams on their heads, praying to the Goddess for peace and happiness.The atmosphere at Old City was vibrant with drum beats and Potharaju dances. In the evening, devotees took out Palaharam Bandi processions with the photos and idols of deities.
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