TTD pattern for Bonalu offerings in Hyderabad favoured

Hyderabad: Temple committees have come up with new proposals for devotees to carry Bonum during the month long Bonalu festival in the ensuing Ashadam beginning June 25.

Following a series of discussions with the government, the temple committees proposed to follow the pattern of the TTD where slot-wise darshan was being allowed. On the same lines, the temple committees are contemplating to permit 50 devotees in each temple for offering Bonalu. This is the only way they can ensure social distancing, the committee members feel.

Ummadi Devalayala Uregimpu Committee members said that they would also urge the devotees to bring Bonum every day instead of only on Sunday. "This will ensure that sentiments are respected and Covid-19 protocols are followed," said K Venkatesh, member of Sri Simhavahini temple at Lal Darwaza in the Old City. Pamphlets, posters and banners were also being prepared as part of the awareness programme, he said.

The temple committees have also decided to keep the procession of ghatam in temples a simple affair. The temple committee wants that at least 10 members from each temple should be allowed to take out the ghatam.

The main festival days in the Old City temples fall on the last Sunday of Ashada Masam, which is on July 19 and 20. Devotees, whether common public or VIPS, will not be allowed on these two days.

The committee is unhappy with the recent statement of Endowments Minister A Indrakaran Reddy who said that the people can watch Bonalu and procession through live telecast instead of going to temples. When there are no Bonums and devotees what will be shown on live telecast, Niranjan, one of the committee members, asked. The committee urged Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao to intervene and take a favourable decision.