Hyderabad to celebrate Bonalu with gaiety and fervour

 HYDERABAD: Temples across the city are decked up for Sunday’s Bonalu celebrations. Many politicians are expected to take part in this year’s festivities.

Sri Simhavahini Mahankali Devalayam at Lal Darwaza, which is the oldest temple in the Old City of Hyderabad, is to celebrate its 115th Bonalu. The state government will be presenting silk cloths as per the established traditions.

Chairman of the temple committee C. Rajender Yadav said,  “Ministers Mohammed Mahmood Ali, Talasani Srinivas Yadav and Indrakaran Reddy and Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan will be offering their prayers in this historic temple.”

“Around 3 am, the ‘Bali ganpa’ will be taken out in a grand procession covering all the surroundings of Lal Darwaza.”

Meanwhile, Nallapochamma Devi temple at Natrajnagar in Tappachabutra will be celebrating its 101st edition.

According committee member Katta Srinivas, “We offered a 40-foot-high Thotela to the deity on Saturday and the procession began from Chowk near Charminar.”

Kattla Karthik, a resident of Khairatabad, said, “The festival is special to me as most of my friends visit here. It will be like a reunion.”