Golconda Bonalu Begins, Ministers Present Silk To Deity

The famous Golconda Bonalu festival began on Sunday in a grand manner with devotees carrying the traditional ghatams, thottelas and bonalu in a procession from Langar House to the fort. Bright and colourful lights illuminated the various temples involved, which witnessed a large number of devotees thronging in.

Endowments Minister A Indrakaran Reddy, Home Minister Nayani Narasimha Reddy and Animal Husbandry Minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav carried bonalu on their heads and offered special prayers to the presiding deity goddess Jagadamba Matha on the occasion.

The ministers also presented silk clothes to the goddess on behalf of the government.

The ministers said that the state government was spending huge funds on the festival - the government had released Rs 10 crores, and each temple was given funds for the purpose, they said. They appealed to the people to celebrate the festival in a peaceful manner and in a spirit of brotherhood.

The police top brass has pressed into service adequate personnel to maintain law and order, traffic regulation and barricading for smooth movement of the devotees.