Bonalu fete off to a colourful start

Secunderabad: The Chief Minister, K Chandrashekar Rao offered prayers at the famous Sri Ujjaini Mahankali Temple in Secunderabad and presented silk saris and bonam to the presiding deity here on Sunday afternoon. He took part in the prayers as part of Bonalu celebrations.

The temple priests along with Animal Husbandry Minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav and others welcomed the Chief Minister. The Endowments Minister A Indrakaran Reddy, Minister of Labour & Employment Ch. Malla Reddy, Minister of Prohibition & Excise, Sports & Youth services V Srinivas Goud and others were also present during the visit of the CM.

Earlier, the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, G Kishan Reddy also offered prayers at the temple. The Annual Bonalu festivities commenced at the historic Sri Ujjaini Mahankali temple on a colourful note amidst tight security.

Women clad in pattu saris stood in queues since early hours of the day to offer 'bonam' which was made up of cooked rice and laced with curd and jaggery in an earthen pot decorated with turmeric and vermilion, and 'neem' leaves to the Goddess Mahankali. Thousands of devotees stood in long queues for more than an hour to have darshan of the Goddess.

Elaborate Security

The city police made elaborate security arrangements for smooth conduct of the two-day festival. Barricades were placed at the main arch of the temple to restrict entry of other persons and maintain proper queues. Surveillance cameras were installed at the temple and adjoining areas to keep a tab on those moving suspiciously.

The devotees were allowed only after checking them thoroughly with door frame and hand-held metal detectors in the temple. A bomb disposal squad was also pressed into service to check suspicious objects, if any, near the temple. More number of women constables were deployed to assist the devotees arriving at the temple.

The lanes and by-lanes in Secunderabad and its surroundings wore a festive atmosphere with the temples of Goddess Sri Mahankali, Sri Peddamma, Sri Nalla Pochamma, Sri Yellamma, Sri Muthyalamma and Sri Maisamma decorated with flowers and illuminated with colorful LED lights.