Hyderabad: No tilak and prasadam at Lal Darwaza this Bonalu

Hyderabad: For the first time devotees visiting the Lal Darwaza Temple will not be given prasadam and would not apply tilak on their forehead. The temple committee has decided to organise a special pooja to pray for an end to the pandemic.

The newly elected chairman of the temple committee, J Laxminarayan Goud, said, "This year marks 112th celebrations and a special Pooja (Chandi Homam) will be organised in Simhavahini Sri Mahankali Devalayam and all other temples located in the Old city on the same date for freedom from deadly virus."

The Bonalu festivities are celebrated for 11 days in which hundreds of devotees perform pooja and women take 'Bonam' on their heads and more than 2 lakh devotees attend the procession on last 2 days, but this year the Bonalu will be for the whole month starting from June 25 to keep safety norms and the women can perform Pooja and take Bonam for entire month."

Minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav instructed to avoid gatherings and processions during festivities and follow government order," said K Venkatesh, Vice President of committee.

During the celebrations, the temple committee will be following the norms and safety precautions and making a wide decisions for safety measures including washing and sanitising of temple daily, thermal screening and sanitising devotees before entering the temple, face mask remains compulsory and to maintain social distancing the signs will be marked and crowd will be prohibited, said Venkatesh.