Lakhs flock to Ujjaini Mahankali temple for Bonalu festival, Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy attends.

The Bonalu festival, a centuries-old celebration, drew lakhs of devotees to the Sri Ujjaini Mahankali temple in Secunderabad. Devotees offered prayers and carried earthen pots filled with rice, milk, and jaggery. The festival featured traditional drum performances and the arrival of Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and other dignitaries. The event saw elaborate arrangements with medical camps, drinking water points, and sanitation workers ensuring cleanliness.

The centuries-old Bonalu festival reached a vibrant high at the Sri Ujjaini Mahankali temple in Secunderabad on Sunday, drawing lakhs of devotees from across Telangana. The festival, known for its colorful devotion and drumbeats, featured traditional rituals and performances, including the arrival of Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and other dignitaries.

From the early hours of the morning, devotees began queuing up along the roads leading to the temple, with crowds stretching as far as Sarojini Devi Road. Women carried bonams, earthen pots filled with rice cooked in milk and jaggery, accompanied by curd, sugar, and turmeric water, offering prayers to the goddess. The festival also saw a spirited performance by the Potharajus, bare-chested men daubed in turmeric and vermillion, dancing to the beat of traditional drums.

The event saw elaborate arrangements with five medical camps established near the temple, each stocked with essential medicines and staffed by trained medical personnel. Drinking water points were set up along major approach routes, and sanitation workers were deployed to ensure cleanliness throughout the area. Despite the enthusiasm of many devotees, the enthusiasm was briefly dampened due to restricted temple access caused by heavy VIP movement. Police personnel attempted to control the crowd, preventing some people from proceeding. Public announcements were made over loudspeakers urging VIP vehicles not to park in areas designated for pilgrims and to vacate congested spots promptly.

Earlier in the day, Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy arrived at the temple, offering pattu vastralu (silk robes) to the deity and performing special pujas. He received theertha prasadam and blessings from the temple priests and was welcomed with traditional Poornakumbham. The Chief Minister, along with Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatreya and Union Minister for Coal and Mines G.Kishan Reddy, and other dignitaries, paid their respects at the temple.

The Bonalu festival is not only a religious event but also a significant economic activity in Telangana. The festival attracts visitors from across the state, contributing to local businesses and the economy. The event also highlights the cultural heritage of Telangana, attracting tourists and promoting the state's tourism industry.

References:
[1] https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/a-riot-of-colour-devotion-and-drumbeats-bonalu-draws-lakhs-to-ujjaini-mahankali-temple/article69807253.ece
[2] https://telanganatoday.com/telangana-wont-surrender-water-rights-even-if-god-stands-in-the-way-revanth-reddy