Kishan Reddy, Talasani Srinivas Yadav attend Mahankali Jatara

Amberpet: Union Minister of State for Home Affairs G Kishan Reddy and State Minister for Animal Husbandry Talasani Srinivas Yadav participated as guests at the grand two-day Mahankali Bonalu Jathara at the main temple and other nearby temples in Amberpet.

Women in large numbers, made a beeline to the shrines since the morning to offer special pooja and seek the deity's blessings. Thousands of devotees offered 'bonalu' to the presiding deities. The Amberpet Mahankali Devasthana Seva Samiti made adequate arrangements.

Addressing the media, both Kishan Reddy and Srinivas Yadav said that they had worshipped the Goddess wishing for bountiful rains and well being of the people in the State. Among those who visited the Amberpet temple and offered special prayers were State minister A Indrakaran Reddy, MLA Kaleru Venkatesh, senior Congress leader V Hanumanth Rao, local corporators D Padmavathi Reddy and Puli Jagan. Addressing the devotees, Reddy and other VIPs said the festival was being celebrated for the welfare of the country, State and society.

Srinivas Yadav said that there were rains throughout the day on Sunday only due to the blessings of the Goddess. He praised the Devasthanam Samithi for making excellent arrangements for the devotees. According to Talasani, the State government was extending financial assistance to 3,900 temples to celebrate the Bonalu festival.

It was thinking of providing silk clothes to the deity in all temples across the State, he said. Temple committee members D Durgaprasad Reddy, Gaddam Lakshman Goud,Rangampalli Raju, Chintala Srinivas Mudiraj, Mora Sriramulu Mudiraj, V Mahender Reddy, Krishna Goud, Miriyala Ravinder, D Narsing Rao, D Kishore and Mahender were among those present.