Hyderabad, July 28, 2013: The 11-day Bonalu festival and Sri Mahankali Jatara at Sri Akkanna Madanna Mahankali Mandiram at Hari Bowli in Shalibanda in the old city was inaugurated with Dhwajarohana (hoisting of religious flag) by city deputy mayor G Raj Kumar on Friday.

The deputy mayor said that necessary steps were being taken up by the municipal corporation to provide civic amenities in the vicinity of Mahankali temples within GHMC limits. Due to the incessant rains, developmental works were affected but the pace of the works would be quickened in the next few days, he assured devotees. About 120 developmental works costing `4.65 lakh are being taken up around the Mahankali temples in the old city by the corporation. Due care is being taken to provide proper sanitation around the temples.

Sri Akkanna Madanna Mahankali Mandiram president G Niranjan said that the temple had been organising the Bonalu festival for  65 years.

The Mata Ghatam procession will be taken out on July 28 at 4 pm from the Kashi Vishwanth temple at Shalibanda and the ghatam will be installed at the temple the same night. Devotees will offer special pujas to the Mata Ghatam daily till the main Bonalu festival which falls on August 4.  Assembly speaker Nadendla Manohar is scheduled to inaugurate a photo exhibition on Bonalu on August 1.

Source: The New Indian Express, DT. July 28, 2013.