Telangana gets ready for Bonalu celebrations

Telangana is gearing up for the Bonalu celebrations with the officials setting up the stage for the festivities to run smoothly in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad.

With the annual Secunderabad Ujjaini Mahankali Jatra, popularly known as Lashkar Bonalu starting from July 9, Minister for Animal Husbandry Talasani Srinivas Yadav reviewed the arrangements with City Mayor Bonthu Rammohan, GHMC Commissioner Janardhan Reddy, City Police Commissioner Mahender Reddy and other concerned officials on Wednesday.

Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao declared Bonalu as the state festival after the formation Telangana. Starting on the first Sunday of Ashadam at the Durga temple in Golconda, Bonalu festival will commence from in Ujjaini Mahankali temple at Secunderabad on the second Sunday.

On the third Sunday comes the closure of the festival with a huge procession from Matheswari temple of Lal Darwaja in Old City.

For the celebrations of the festival, the state government has released Rs 5 crores.