Mahankali Temple comes alive

Secunderabad wore a festive look as thousands of devotees thronged Sri Ujjaini and several other Mahankali temples on Sunday on the occasion ofBonalu. Governor ESL Narsimhan and a host of ministers, MPs, MLAs and VIPs offered prayers at the UjjainiMahakali temple.

With traditional drum beats renting the air and vermillion-smeared pothurajus cracking their whips, devotees arrived in large numbers from different parts of the city and from neighbouring districts.

Clad in their traditional finery, women brought along the bonam, the festive offering for the mother goddess, prepared from cooked rice and jaggery in a pot and adorned with neem leaves. Most devotees arrived in small processions.

Minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav in the morning and presented the traditional offering of silk clothes on behalf of the government. Speaking on the occasion, he said that with the blessings of the Goddess, the State is experiencing bountiful of rains. He said that all necessary arrangements were made for the devotees to visit the Goddess and offer Bonalu.

Governor and Lady Governor had the darshan of the presiding deity on the occasion and prayed the goddess for the good healh of the people. Later Narasimhan said that they had the darshan of the Goddess and participated in the special pujas. Endowments Minister Indrakaran Reddy conveyed Bonalu greetings to all the women. He expressed confidence that with the blessings of the Goddess, they would achieve ‘Bangaru Telangana’ shortly

Minister of State for Labour and Employment BandaruDattatreya and many other leaders visited the temple and offered prayers. The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation and the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board, among other government departments, had made arrangements to provide clean roads, drinking water and electricity.