The prestigious Bonalu in the Old City of Hyderabad took off on a colourful note on Sunday with temples wearing a festive look for the annual festivities.
The prestigious Bonalu in the Old City of Hyderabad took off on a colourful note on Sunday with temples wearing a festive look for the annual festivities.
Devotees started pouring into the temples from the early hours, with the Simhavahini Sri Mahankali Temple being the centre of the celebrations with devotees converging in large numbers there.
Since the dawn, women devotees started turning up in large numbers to offer "bonams" to the Mother Goddess. The star attractions as always were the "potharajus" coming in small processions from the nearby areas and converging at the temples.
Telangana Endowments Minister Indrakaran Reddy offered pattu vastrams (silk clothes) to Ammavaru on behalf of the State government. Home Minister Mahmood Ali and Animal Husbandry Minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav too had a darsan of the goddess.
Several politicians, film actors, sportspersons and officials of various government departments were also seen visiting the temples. The intermittent rainfall failed to dampen the festive spirit.
The police made elaborate security arrangements by deploying Rapid Action Forces, the Telangana State Special Police and the civil police to ensure law and order.