The week-long Kakatiya Vaibhav Sapthaham festival began on a grand scale in Warangal on Thursday.
The 22nd descendent of the Kakatiya lineage, Kamal Chandra Bunj Deo, also known as Bastar Maharaj, based in Jagdalpur in Chattisgarh, graced the occasion and took part in the inauguration celebrations of the festival.
Deo arrived early in the morning at the historic Bhadrakali temple in Hanumakonda, where he was accorded a grand welcome by the temple priests with a Poorna Kumbham.
Ministers Srinivas Goud and Satyavathi Rathod, Government Whip Dasyam Vinay Bhaskar and others welcomed Deo, and thanked him for accepting the invitation of the State government for taking part in the inauguration ceremony of the festival.
On the occasion, Deo offered special prayers to the goddess Bhadrakali, and took part in various rituals conducted by the temple priests.
"I feel very happy visiting Warangal, the region our ancestors ruled all those years back and where people still have them in their hearts. I am pleased to take part in the celebrations," Deo said.
A plethora of programs are being organised as part of the festival, that concludes on July 13.