The premises of the historical Golconda Fort on Sunday teemed with a large number of devotees for Bonalu festivities.
Right from the morning, devotees started to show up for the festivities. Smeared with vermilion and turmeric, they came with traditional offering to the goddess at Sri Jagadamba Mahakali Temple located on the fort premises.
Women and men brought ‘bonam’, the offering made with rice and jaggery to seek the blessings of the goddess, in the earthern and silver pots. Attired in the traditional finery, they lent the fort area a touch of colour and pomp.
To the pulsating beats of drums came the processions led by Pothurajus who smeared with turmeric and equipped whips in the hands, swayed to the beats. Devotees not only from the city, but also from adjoining districts and neighbouring States too were turned up for the celebrations.
Animal Husbandry Minister T Srinivas Yadav visited the temple and said the last weekend festival celebrations here recorded a footfall of more than 50,000.
The State government made elaborate arrangements for the festival to be held at Secunderabad Ujjaini Mahankali temple and at Lal Darwaza Mahankali Temple among other places in the old city on July 29 and August 5 respectively, he said.
“After the formation of Telangana State, the government had accorded State festival status to Bonalu and adequate funds are being granted for celebrations on a grand scale every year,” he said.
Meanwhile, Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board, Police Department and others made elaborate arrangements for the smooth conduct of the festival at Golconda Fort. For the convenience of devotees, water board had set up stalls at several places to distribute water.
Techies turn off systems, turn up for Bonalu jatara
Logging out of their daily networks and shutting down the systems, techies of the city’s bustling IT corridor gathered around for Bonalu celebrations.
At Shilparamam close to Cyber Towers, there were drumbeats, folk dances and ghattams.
Organised by Telangana Information Technology Association (TITA) in collaboration with Department of Culture and Language, Bonalu jatara drew participation of a large number of techies.
Oggu Dolu, Gussadi Nruthyam, Dappulu, Kolatam, and folk songs lent to the festive atmosphere here. A Bonalu procession by 21 techies was also taken out from Shilparamam to Chinna Peddama temple and an offering of saree with ‘vodi biyyam’ marked the event at the temple.
Andrew Fleming, British Deputy High Commissioner, Hyderabad, who took part in the celebrations said it was the first time he was witnessing one of the important State’s festival.
TITA president Sundeep Kumar Makthala said the jatara was organised for the fifth time in the city. “Every year, we are organising the festivities on a grand note as we want to involve the techies in culture and traditions of the State,” he said.
Courtesy: Telangana Today
