Hyderabad, July 7 (NSS): The annual Ashada Bonalu festivities begun at Sri Jagadamba Mahankali temple in Golconda, Hyderabad on Sunday.
Endowment Minister Konda Surekha, Hyderabad district In-charge Minister Ponnam Prabhakar and GHMC Mayor Gadwala Vijaya Lakshmi visited the Golconda temple and offered prayers to the Goddess to mark the beginning of the Bonalu festivities.
The Golconda is the only place where the colourful festival is celebrated during the entire ‘Ashadam’ month.
To mark the occasion, the Kummari community offered the first bonum to the Goddess in the Golconda temple.
Meanwhile, a special puja and abhishekam were performed to the Goddess. The devotees in large numbers were seen coming to the temple to have a darshan of the presiding deity.
The arrangements were made in the fort for the devotees flocking to the temple. Drinking water points have been established from the beginning of the fort.
Hyderabad Collector Anudeep Durishetti said the arrangements have been made so that the devotees do not face any difficulties. The police have made heavy security in the vicinity of Golconda Fort. On the other hand, the health department officials have specially set up health camps.
Meanwhile, the State government has provided free entry to the fort to the devotees on all the days of the festival.
The authorities of all the departments have made arrangements so that the devotees do not face any difficulties.
GHMC, police, health, traffic and electricity officials are participating in the duties. A total of 20 mobile toilets, five health camps and three ambulances have been made available in the Golconda Fort. Battery vehicles have been arranged for the elderly and disabled.
Moreover, an ambulance was also kept ready in case of emergency. The fire department has also prepared a mobile fire extinguisher. The police have organised picketing from Langer House to Golconda and also kept women police teams ready.
Srinivasa Raju, Executive Officer of the temple said that all measures have been taken without causing any inconvenience to the devotees. (NSS)
