Devices participating in the last phase of Bonal celebrations at the historic temple of Lal Darwaza Mahankali in the Old Town of Hyderabad on Monday. | PHOTO CREDIT: NAGARA GOPAL
With the robust security measures, the placement of teams and criminal units and coordination across departments, the historical Ghattam procession of the Bonal festival, which began on Monday morning at Akkan Madann in Haribowli, ended late Monday evening.
Police Commissioner Hyderabad CV Anand together with his wife Lalitha Anand visited the temple and started a parade. He thanked the leadership of the temple and the organizers and expanded his best wishes for the smooth behavior of the festival.
He watched the rich heritage of the temple and said Mr. Anand that the Sri Akkan Madann temple had dated 350 years. “You were carried out here during the rule of Qutb Shahi in 1675 for almost a decade. After the death of Akkann and Madanna, the rituals stopped. Only after independence was the temple rebuilt and revived the festivals,” he said.
He added that the Bonal celebrations have been held on a large scale with active support for the Ministers of Ponnam Prabhakar and Konda Surekha over the last month. “This year’s Bonal festival was unprecedented to extent and participation,” said Mr. Anand.
Caparisms with a photo of the goddess Mahakali, who was eliminated on Monday as part of the Bonal Festival in the Old Town of Hyderabad. | PHOTO CREDIT: NAGARA GOPAL
Regarding security, the highest policeman said that preventive measures were taken to avoid stamps and other invalid incidents. “We have ensured trouble -free coordination between the departments so that the devotees are not affected by any inconvenience. Teams and the crime units were on the ground to reduce the hoist, driving and chain reduction,” he explained.
Ghatmam the parade went through Gowligud, Lal Darwaza and Shah Ali Banda before culminating in Nayapul.
Higher officials including Vikram Singh Mann, joint operation of CP Joel Davis and DCP Apoorva Rao, Sneha Mehra, Rakshith Krishna Murty and Venkateswarl were present at the event.
Published – 22 July 2025 01:44 IS
