Bonalu fete starts today; Dargah gets spruced up

Shahalibanda: Reflecting the communal harmony prevalent amongst the Hindus and Muslims in the city, a dargah opposite the Akkanna-Madanna Mahankali Mandir (AMM) continues to get special treatment from the temple committee every year. The Dargah gets spruced up along with the temple every year by the organisers. Besides painting of the shrine, the committee also offers a Chader on the occasion.

Even as the historic temple, located at Hari Bowli at Shalibanda starts celebrating Bonalu from Friday, the dargah is considered to be as old as the temple from the period of Qutub Shahi rulers and attracts the attention of those who visit it, as the temple committee cleans and paints the Dargah-e-Shareef located opposite the AMM temple.

"The Bonalu festival in AMM temple would be incomplete without offering of a Chader at Dargah-e-Shareef by the committee. The Dargah is painted every year and also lightened-up along with temple during Bonalu", said SP Kranti Kumar, Organizing Secretary AMMM.

Speaking to The Hans India here on Thursday, Kranthi Kumar, who does not know the name of the Dargah or its history, said that during the 10-day Bonalu festival, even the Dargah is spruced up. "Generally, a shopkeeper and an old man comes and cleans up the place who patronize it during normal days", he added.

"During the festivities, prior to the inauguration of the photo exhibition at the temple and after performing pooja, the dignitaries offer Chader to the shrine", he added. This year, the AMM temple is celebrating the 71st year of Bonalu festival. On Friday. the Dwajarohana will be held for which the Mayor is invited.

On Sunday, the Matha Ghatam will be brought in a procession from Kashi Vishwanath Temple Shalibanda via Lal Darwaza X Road, Nagulachintha, Lal Darwaza, Balagunj, Gowlipura and Bela and installed in the temple premises.

The special poojas will be performed to Matha Ghatam every day up to the Bonalu festival. On July 24, a photo exhibition on Bonalu would be inaugurated by dignitaries and Depotshavam and Chapanbogh will be provided, said G Rajaratnam, Advisor to AMMM.

Rajaratnam also said that the main Bonalu festival would be celebrated on July 28 and devotees from the twin cities and surrounding districts would be visiting the temple to have darshan and blessings of Mahankali Matha.

The Mahankali Jaathara and procession will be organised on July 29, After the Potharaju Swagatham and Rangam, the Matha Ghatam will be taken out in a procession on a fully decorated elephant and passes through Bela, Nehru Statue, Lal Darwaza X Roads, Shahalibanda, Charminar, Pattarghatti, Madina and culminates at the Matha temple near Musi River in Nayapool, where the 11-day festival concludes on July 30 with 'Ashthadala Phadapadmaradhan Pavithrosthavam'.

Dignitaries who visited temple

Earlier, many dignitaries like Sonia Gandhi, LK Advani, Ghulam Nabi Azad, former Chief Ministers Dr M Chenna Reddy, Dr Y S Rajashekar Reddy, present Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and others visited the temple.

History of the temple

Akkanna Madanna Mahankali Mandiram is a historic temple in Telangana State. During the regime of King Tanisha (Golconda Ruler) in the 17th century, two brothers Akkanna and Madanna were in key positions in the government. Akkanna was Commander-in-chief and Madanna was Prime Minister. They used to perform puja to Matha and take rest in the Devidi where this temple was located, on their way to Golconda from their residence in Mankhal Maheswaram.

According to the ancestors, the local people knew about the existence of Mahankali Temple inside the temple, but it was not open for the general public, said A Satish Kumar, President AMM.

The temple is a symbol of Hindu-Muslim unity and harmony as it was developed with the cooperation of Muslim brothers in the locality. After the Police Action in 1948, under the guidance of well-known Arya Samaj leaders like the late B Venkat Swamy, late A Jangaiah, late A Narahari, and other leaders, found this ancient temple by breaking the Devidi wall.

The owner of the Devidi, the late Mir Mohammed Anwar Ali Khaja from Balda (City) helped them make this temple available for public worship. They found the idol of Matha, Jyoti, pooja utensils, a few holy books, an old leaf and cradles (Thotala's). The witness of this incident, the late A Jangaiah and late V Raja Shanker had taken further interest in the development of this temple, he added.

Elephant 'Gaja Lakshmi'

Since the year 1999, the procession of Bonalu was taken on elephant 'Hashmi' of Nizam Trust. It was allowed by Mukkaram Jah. Later, the procession was carried on the elephant Rajni for 15 years. Due to its health issues, the government has now arranged an elephant 'Gaja Lakshmi' from the neighboring state of Karnataka, said Kranti Kumar.