The two day annual Bonalu festival at the Ujjaini Mahankali temple began today on a grand scale in Secunderabad, with thousands of devotees thronging the temple to have darshan of the Goddess.
Telangana Governor ESL Narasimhan and his wife offered prayers to the deity.
Telangana Home Minister N Narasimha Reddy, state Animal Husbandry and Cinematography Minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav, TRS MP K Kavitha, star badminton player P V Sindhu were also among those who offered prayers.
Elaborate security arrangements were made with deployment of heavy police force and 130 CCTV cameras were put up for monitoring purpose.
Telangana government has accorded status of "state festival" to Bonalu after the formation of the new state in June 2014.
Bonalu is an annual festival celebrated in 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.
Women, attired in colourful robes, carry the 'Bonalu' (decorated pots containing cooked rice mixed with jaggery and curd) on their heads to the temple for offering them to the Goddess.
Bonalu is celebrated to ward off diseases and usher in good health, peace and prosperity.
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