Hyderabad, July 8, 2013: The annual Bonalu festival at the historic Sri Akkanna Madanna Mahakali temple in Old City will be celebrated on August 4 and 5.

The celebrations will commence with ‘mahabhishekam’ and ‘kalashastapana’ on July 26 at the temple at Shahlibanda.

The main Bonalu festival will be held on August 4 and will be followed the next day with ‘rangam’ and a procession.

ARRANGEMENTS

Elaborate arrangements would be made for the smooth conduct of the festival, said temple committee president G. Niranjan at a press conference on Sunday.

COMPETITIONS

The temple committee requested the State government to organise cultural programmes at the temple premises while the temple committee will be conducting various competitions in cycling, elocution, rangoli and a few sports, he added.

The festivities are observed in various parts of the cities during the month of ‘Aashadam’.

The festivities start at a temple atop the Golconda Fort.

Then the major festival begins at Sri Ujjaini Mahankali temple in Secunderabad.

A week later, festivities come to an end after the two-day Bonalu festival at Akkanna Madanna temple and Simhavahini temple at Lal Darwaza.

The city erupts in spontaneous celebrations during the month as people from different walks of life join the festivities.

Source: The Hindu, DT. July 8, 2013.