BRS Working President KTR offers prayers at Ujjaini Mahankali Temple on Bonalu, says KCR made it State festival
Hyderabad, August 2
BRS Working President K T Rama Rao on Sunday offered prayers at the Ujjaini Mahankali Temple in Secunderabad on the occasion of the Bonalu festival.
KTR was accompanied by former minister and MLA G Jagadish Reddy, former minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav, Amberpet MLA Kaleru Venkatesh and other party leaders.
In a post on X, KTR said people of Hyderabad and Secunderabad were offering Bonam to Goddess Mahankali with devotion and faith.
He said that before the formation of Telangana, there had been a demand to declare Bonalu a state festival, but "no one paid attention."
According to KTR, it was KCR himself who offered a golden Bonam to Ammavaru and recognised the Bonalu festival as the state festival after coming to power. He also said that the Yadadri Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple was developed and reconstructed for Rs 1,800 crore during the BRS government's tenure.
KTR further said funds were allocated to every temple committee during the Bonalu festival. He said that he prayed to Goddess Mahankali for good rainfall across the state and for the prosperity of farmers.
Meanwhile, thousands of devotees gathered at Ujjaini Mahakali Temple in Secunderabad on Sunday to offer prayers to Goddess Mahankali.
From the early hours of the day, devotees arrived at the temple carrying traditional Bonam offerings in decorated earthen pots containing rice, jaggery, curd, and water as part of the long-standing ritual dedicated to Goddess Mahankali.
The temple premises witnessed a festive atmosphere as worshippers participated in the celebrations with devotion and enthusiasm.
The Telangana State government and police had made extensive arrangements to facilitate a smooth and orderly darshan for the large number of devotees expected during the festival.
One of the key attractions of the festival is the energetic Potharaju dance, a traditional performance associated with Bonalu that adds to the festive spirit.
The Ujjaini Mahakali Temple in Secunderabad remains the focal point of the Bonalu festivities every year, drawing large crowds of devotees united in faith and tradition.
— ANI
Reader Comments
The Potharaju dance is my favourite part of Bonalu! The energy in Secunderabad today was amazing. People from all communities coming together to celebrate — this is the real Telangana spirit. 🌺
KCR did remember Bonalu, no doubt. But why is everything being politicised now? The festivals should be above politics. We all enjoy the celebrations regardless of which party brought them to the level of a state festival.
Nice to see cultural festivals getting the recognition they deserve. The golden Bonam offering is such a beautiful gesture. Hopefully good rainfall this year for our farmers. 🌧️
The festive atmosphere at Ujjaini today was really special. But I wish the authorities would control the crowd better. It was really difficult for women and elderly people to move around.
KTR talking about Bonalu while ignoring the promises made to youth for jobs? Priorities, saar, priorities! Anyway, Jai Mahankali! 🙏
Finally, our own Telangana festivals are getting the importance they deserve. Before 2014, it was all about the other festivals. Now we can proudly celebrate our culture. 😊
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