Fervour mark Bonalu festivities in Hyderabad HYDERABAD: After 11 days of traditional celebrations and worship of Goddess Mahakali, the annual Bonalu festival concluded in the old city on Monday evening with a colourful procession followed by immersion of Ghatams on the banks of river Musi near Nayapul.
The procession was taken out on a well decorated elephant carrying the ghatam of Godess Mahakali. The procession was flagged off by advisor to Telangana government KV Ramanachary in the presence of Hyderabad police commissioner M Mahender Reddy.
The 'ghatam' of Haribowli Akkanna Madanna temple, placed on an elephant headed the procession.
Slogans such as 'Jai Mahankali Mataki' rent the air and devotees offered flowers and fruits to the deities en route. The grand procession passed off peacefully with the immersion of 'ghatams' of 12 temples in Musi river.
Thousands of devotees lined up all along the Lal Darwaza-Shah Ali Banda, Charminar, Patherghatti, Madina and Nayapul to witness the glittering and colourful convoy of ghatams.
En route the procession, various temple committees and others welcomed the procession by erecting stages and offered flowers. Cultural troupes and artistes from different parts of the state performed cultural programmes all along the procession route and carrying of Bonalu were the major attraction of the procession. Youngsters danced to the pulsating drum beats with 'Potharajus' taking the centrestage of the festivities.
Mounted horses and models representing various forms of god forms attracted the passersby. Kids dressed in various mythological roles were a fest to the eye.
The important 'mata ghatams' of the procession included Mahankali temples of Haribowli Akkanna-Madanna, Laldarwaza, Uppuguda, Miralam Mandi, Kasaratta, Alijah Kotla and Gowlipura, Jagadamba temple of Sultanshahi, Bangaru Mysamma temple of Shahalibanda and Sultanshahi, Darbar Mysamma of Aliabad and Mutyalamma temple of Chandulal Bela. The convoy of different temples converged at Nehru statue in Laldarwaza crossroads en route to Nayapul.
Elected representatives welcomed the procession at Charminar where a special stage was erected. After performing special prayers, the ghatams were immersed in the Musi marking the conclusion of the festival.
News Posted: 22 July, 2014
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