Rains, Prosperity For Telangana: Ujjaini Oracle

Telangana will receive bountiful rains on time this year and people will enjoy a rich harvest, the Ujjaini Mahankali temple oracle has predicted.

She also said that the goddess was pleased with the services of Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao and his ministers for "doing their best" for the Bonalu festival.

The two-day Bonalu festival at the Ujjaini Mahankali temple in Secunderabad concluded with "rangam" on Monday. Standing on a fresh mud pot in front of the Mathangi temple opposite the presiding deity amidst thousands of devotees, oracle Swarnalatha, who it is believed speaks the voice of the goddess at that time, declared that the she was very happy with the state government, and would protect the Chief Minister and his committed ministerial team.

The "goddess" also said that all the devotees were Her children, and that she would not allow Her devotees to suffer and would protect them from all problems.

"Everybody will be happy and peaceful," She said.

She however said that the selfishness of leaders was adding to the woes of the people.

"The leaders should work in the spirit of service and sacrifice, but they are drenched in selfishness. They are looting the wealth of the state and even of the temples," she said.

"How will anything good be possible if the leaders behave like this?" she asked, and commanded the leaders to serve the people better.

Expressing displeasure over the attitude of the leaders even after the bifurcation of the state, she roared, "The rogues should make amends and reform themselves."

She ordered her devotees not to do anything without Her consent, and said that they would have to face Her wrath if they did.

Later, the processional idol of Mahankali Ammavaru was taken in a procession on a decorated elephant. In the devotional atmosphere, folk artistes, potharajus and devotees danced in ecstasy. In the evening, the traditional "palahaaram bandlu" (Ammavaru idols on chariots drawn by sheep) were taken out, and prizes were awarded to the best chariots.

Earlier, Animal Husbandry Minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav came to the temple and supervised the arrangements along with the temple's Executive Officer Annapurna. He flagged off the procession of Ammavaru by breaking a coconut. Officials of GHMC and the police, health and endowments departments, temple committee members, and members of other departments were present.

Speaking to the media later, Yadav said that the festival was conducted smoothly and that lakhs of devotees had participated in the jatara. Responding to reports of Union Minister Bandaru Dattatreya's vehicle being stopped at a distance from the temple, Yadav said that it could have been because of the heavy rush on Sunday and that there were no political reasons. He apologized to the Secunderabad MP for any inconvenience caused due to the act of the police.