Hyderabad police chief, wife flag off city Ghatam procession

HYDERABAD: City police commissioner C.V. Anand and his wife Lalita flagged off the Ghatam procession on Monday on an invitation by the Sri Akkanna Madanna temple management.

Followed by a huge crowd, the caparisoned elephant started from the Akkanna Madanna temple at Haribowli and passed through Gowlipura, Lal Darwaza, Shalibanda and Charminar before concluding at the Delhi Gate at Nayapul, The police commissioner said the Bonalu celebrations dated to the 17th century and were an integral part of Telangana culture and had been recognised as the state festival by the government after the formation of the state.

The government, police, GHMC and endowment departments coordinated their work to facilitate easy darshan for the devotees, he said. Senior police officers and Dattatreya, secretary of Akkanna Madanna temple, were present.