Thousands of devotees from various parts of the city thronged the Mahankali temple at Lal Darwaza to seek blessings of the presiding deity on the occasion of the annual Bonalu festival on Sunday.
The traditional fervor and gaiety was evident in the celebrations, with women devotees carrying the traditional 'Bonam' in vessels and clay pots embellished with turmeric, vermilion and neem leaves, on their heads, and offering them to the Goddess. The pots contain cooked rice, water, and some pickles and onions.
Devotees offered Bonams to the goddess at Mahankali, Maisamma and Pochamma temples amid drum beats and leg-tapping folk songs. The dances by 'Potharajus' was a special attraction, whom the devotees believe protect them from demons and bad evils.
The devotees queued up to have a darshan of the presiding deities in temples right from the early hours of Sunday, and offered 'Vodi Biyyam' to the Ammavaru.