Hyderabad :

The annual Ashada Jatara Bonalu festival will be held at the Ujjaini Mahankali temple in Secunderabad on Sunday. After the formation of new Telangana state, this would be the first grand festival to be held in the new state. The state government has declared Bonalu it a state festival.

Bonalu is an important Hindu festival dedicated to the Goddess Mahakali and is held in the month of Ashadam. The festival is celebrated to ward off evil and usher in peace and harmony.

Apart from Ujjaini Mahankali temple, several Mahakali temples located in Secunderadad like Ramgopalpet, Pan Bazar, Mettuguda, Bhoiguda, R P Road and M G Road, Paradise, YMCA, Patny and Ranigunj will also be celebrating the festival on the same day. Meanwhile, preparations are under way in full swing for the festival.

Executive Officer and Assistant Commissioner of Sri Ujjaini Mahakali Devasthanam, Secunderabad, A Ashok Goud said Sri Ammavaru (Goddess Mahakali) darshan would will commence at 4 am on Sunday and go on till 2 am the next day.

Devotees will be allowed for darshan (prayers) of Goddess Mahakali through dharma darshanam entrance from 4 am. Lakhs of devotees are expected to visit the temple for darshan during this period.Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao along with family members, Ministers, MPs and MLAs would offer prayers to goddess Mahakali at around noon on Sunday.

Rangam tomorrow

The festival will conclude on Monday with ‘Rangam’, foretelling of the future by a young unmarried woman at 9 am followed by Mahakali procession on a caparisoned elephant. The procession with the Mahankali idol will begin at 10.30 am and culminate at Mettuguda.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Hyderabad / by Express News Service / July 13th, 2014