Devotees, political leaders flock to Mahakaali Temples for Bonalu celebrations in Hyderabad

A massive turnout of devotees and several political figures marked the vibrant Bonalu festivities across Mahakaali temples in Hyderabad on Sunday (July 20), as part of the annual celebration held during the Hindu month of Ashadha. Thousands of worshippers thronged the Simhavahini Mahakaali Temple at Lal Darwaja, offering prayers and holding traditional rituals in devotion to the Goddess.

Devotees carried and presented ‘bonam’, a sacred offering of cooked rice with milk and jaggery, prepared in newly adorned earthen or brass pots. These pots, decorated with neem leaves, turmeric, and vermilion, were carried on the heads of women, who also offered bangles and sarees at the temples as part of the custom.

The state government made elaborate arrangements, deploying security personnel and ensuring smooth logistics to facilitate the large gatherings. Union Minister for Coal and Mines, G Kishan Reddy, offered prayers at the Mahakaali temples in Amberpet and Nimboliadda, while State Roads and Buildings Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy and Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar visited the Bhagya Lakshmi Temple near Charminar.

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Panchayat Raj Minister Danasari Anasuya Seethakka presented silk clothes to the deity at the Khila Maisamma Temple. Bonalu, is a deeply rooted folk festival in Telangana and is traditionally celebrated at multiple prominent temples, including those at Golconda Fort, the Ujjaini Mahakaali Temple in Secunderabad, and finally culminating at the Lal Darwaja Simha Vahini Temple.

Meanwhile, the Hyderabad City Police’s SHE Teams apprehended 478 individuals for misbehaving with women at key religious sites during the Bonalu and Moharram festivals. The action was part of a wider enforcement drive across major locations, including Golconda Bonalu, Balkampet Yellamma Temple, and Ujjaini Mahankali Temple in Secunderabad.

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Among those caught were 386 adults and 92 minors, intercepted for acts of harassment and unruly behaviour during the heavy public gatherings. A total of 14 SHE teams were strategically deployed across high-footfall areas to provide both preventive and responsive support, ensuring women’s safety during the celebrations.

According to the Women Safety Wing, 288 individuals were let off with warnings, while four were booked under petty cases, resulting in fines amounting to ₹1,050. Five offenders were convicted, with one receiving a jail sentence and a monetary fine. Additionally, eight FIRs were registered at different police stations across the city.

(Edited by : Jerome Anthony)