The two-day State Festival Bonalu today kick-started with festival fervour and gaiety as women and girls thronged temples, including 107-year-old Simhavahini Goddess at the famous Lal Darwaja Temple in Old City and Akkanna and Madanna Temple in Hari Bowli in huge numbers with traditional pots overheads embellished with Vermillion, Turmeric and Neem branches.
The women offered Bonalu to the Goddess at the Lal Darwaja (Red Door). Even as the women and girls, clad in traditional new and silk clothes offered Bonalu to the goddess, the State government made elaborate arrangements for peaceful conduct of the rituals. At Akkanna Madanna temple in Haribowli, devotees thronged in large numbers and offered Bonalu and attended special pujas.
Devotees in the twin cities, who indulged in festive mood offered traditional Thottela, a part of Bonalu festival seen everywhere. The festival will conclude on Monday in the old city and other parts of the twin cities. Earlier the festival held in Golconda, Secunderabad for two days each with a large number of people attending the Bonalu tradition. (NSS)