Bonalu festival begins in Hyderabad’s Old City amid tight security

Hyderabad’s two-day annual Bonalu festival began in the Old City on Sunday with grand celebrations at major Mahankali temples. Thousands of devotees offered traditional bonams amid tight security. Festivities will conclude Monday with Ghatam processions through Charminar and Shahalibanda

Hyderabad: The two-day annual Bonalu festival began in Hyderabad’s Old City on Sunday, August 9, amid grand celebrations and tight security arrangements.

Festivities are centred around major shrines, including the Sri Simhavahini Mahankali Temple at Lal Darwaza, as well as temples in Sultan Shahi, Hari Bowli and Uppuguda. The Old City wore a festive look, with large numbers of devotees turning up at the temples from the early hours.

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Long queues of women carrying traditional earthen pots, or bonams, on their heads were witnessed at several prominent temples since early morning. Devotees offered cooked rice mixed with milk, jaggery and curd to Goddess Mahankali as part of the ritual. The decorated pots were adorned with neem leaves and topped with a small lamp.

The celebrations will conclude on Monday, August 10, with traditional Ghatam processions passing through the historic areas of Charminar and Shahalibanda before culminating at the Nayapool immersion point near the Musi River.

Police have made elaborate security arrangements across the Old City to ensure the smooth conduct of the festivities and processions.