Old City Bonalu concludes on a colourful note

Shahalibanda: The annual 2-day Bonalu festivities in Old City took off on a colourful note and concluded peacefully in the Old city on Monday. The new elephant 'Sudha' has been an attraction of the annual Bonalu festivities in Old city, which led the grand Bonalu procession which was started from the Akkanna Maddanna Mahankali temple in Hari Bowli.

The second and concluding day of grand festivities of the annual Bonalu started by the grand Pooja on early morning, which was attended by the hundreds of devotees in Mahankali temples in Old city. Later in morning around 11 am the Pothuraju Swagatham was organised by different Mahankali temples.

Pothuraju was seen touring the surrounding areas of temple while showering blessings by donning this special avatar, which is believed to safeguard devout from evil spirit. Different cultural programs were organised on roads and nearby temples by the devotees and later Rangam was organised.

On evening the fully decorated Matha Ghatam has taken out in procession Shri Mahankali Jathara on the fully decorated elephant 'Sudha', specially brought from Karnataka. The procession started by the Pooja performed by K V Ramana Chary Retd IAS and Advisor to Government and City Commissioner of Police Anjani Kumar.

The procession started from Akkanna Maddanna Mahankali temple in Hari Bowli passing through Maissamma Mahankali temple in Bela, Nehru Statue, Lal Darwaza x roads, Shahalibanda, passing through Charminar, Pattarghatti, Madina and culminated at the Matha temple near musi river in Nayapul peacefully, in which thousands of devotees took part.

Elephant 'Sudha' replaced by local elephant Rajani

Speaking to The Hans India Akkanna Maddanna Temple Patron, G Niranjan lamented that, it was sad that since 2005 the elephant 'Rajani' was part of the annual Bonalu procession and this year due to her health issues, she was not able to take part in the grand procession and he was praying for her good health.

The main attraction for the procession on Monday remained the new elephant. It may be mentioned here that due to 'bad attitude' of elephant 'Gaja Lakshmi', which took part in Ujjani Mahankali procession on last Monday in Secunderabad Bonalu, she was sent back.

Following a request to Endowment and forest department to arrange another elephant for the procession, the departments arranged the new elephant 'Sudha' from Karnataka and the elephant has performed well in the Sabzi Mandi Bonalu procession on Sunday. The organisers and devotees felt satisfied with the good behavior and her performance in the procession.

Tight security arrangements

The city police made tight security arrangements for smooth conduct of the two-day grand festivities. CCTV cameras were installed at the temple and nearby areas. More number of women constables were deployed to assist the devotees arriving at the temple.

Police personal were also deployed at the Masjid terrace in Pathergatti. Around 2000 police personnel were deployed like RAF (Rapid Action Force), Traffic police, Law and Order police, bomb squads etc. Additional Commissioner of Police (L&O) D S Chauhan, DCP (Traffic) K Babu Rao, DCP South zone Amber Kishore Jha and other officers were inspecting the areas.