CM, thousands throng Mahankali temple during Bonalu festival

The two-day annual Bonalu festival, celebrated in parts of Telangana as a thanks giving to Goddess Mahankali, began today at the famous Ujjaini Mahankali temple in Secunderabad here.

Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and his family offered prayers to the deity as thousands of devotees thronged the temple since morning to have darshan of Goddess Mahankali.

Rao's daughter and Nizamabad MP K Kavitha made a golden 'bonam' (offering) to the goddess in a 3.8-kg golden pot donated by devotees.

State Home Minister N Narasimha Reddy, Ministers Talasani Srinivas Yadav and A Indrakaran Reddy, Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee President N Uttam Kumar Reddy, BJP leaders Bandaru Dattatreya, G Kishan Reddy were among those who offered prayers.

Bonalu is an annual festival celebrated in the twin cities of Hyderabad, Secunderabad and parts of Telangana as a thanks giving to Goddess Mahankali for fulfilment of vows and involves worship of the goddess and her various forms.

It is celebrated to ward off diseases and usher in good health, peace and prosperity.

The Telangana government has accorded status of "state festival" to Bonalu after the formation of the new state in June 2014.

Women prepare rice, cooked along with milk and jaggery, in a new earthern or brass pot which is adorned with neem leaves and others.

They carry the pots on their heads and make an offering of 'bonam' to the goddess.

Hyderabad Police Commissioner Anjani Kumar told reporters that elaborate security arrangements have been madeand nearly 375 CCTV cameras installed in and around the Ujjaini Mahankali temple for monitoring movement of devotees.