Bonalu Celebrations Bring Hyderabad’s Old City Alive with Devotion

Hyderabad’s historic Old City turned into a vibrant centre of devotion as Bonalu celebrations began on Sunday, with thousands of devotees visiting temples across Lal Darwaza, Sultan Shahi, Haribowli and Mir Alam Mandi. The two-day festivities on August 9 and 10 featured traditional rituals, processions and cultural activities, creating a festive atmosphere across the neighbourhood.

Women carrying beautifully decorated Bonam pots on their heads arrived in processions and offered them to the presiding deities. With devotees turning up in large numbers, police deployed extensive security arrangements across the major temple areas.

Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy visited the Mahankali temple in Amberpet and performed special prayers. He said Bonalu had a special place in Telangana’s cultural heritage and prayed for peace, prosperity and protection from natural calamities.

Minister Seethakka, accompanied by a government adviser, also visited the Amberpet Mahankali temple and presented silk garments to the deity.

At the Bhagyalakshmi Temple near Charminar, Ministers Ponnam Prabhakar and Konda Surekha offered silk garments and performed special prayers. They prayed for the happiness and welfare of the people and for Telangana’s continued development.

BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao (KTR), along with former minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav, visited the Yedugulla Pochamma temple in Nampally, Lal Darwaza and the Mir Alam Mahankali temple. KTR also recalled welfare initiatives undertaken by the previous KCR government for the empowerment and development of tribal communities on the occasion of World Tribal Day.

Congress MP Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy visited the Lal Darwaza Mahankali temple and said he had come to Hyderabad for Bonalu as he does every year despite Parliament being in session. He prayed for the welfare of the people and farmers.

Actor Vijay Deverakonda, accompanied by his brother Anand Deverakonda and filmmaker Sandeep Reddy Vanga, visited the historic Sri Simhavahini Mahankali Temple at Lal Darwaza. He performed special prayers, broke coconuts and sought the goddess’s blessings.

The actor extended Bonalu greetings and said it was his first visit to the temple. He prayed for people’s wishes, as well as his own aspirations, to be fulfilled. His visit drew a large crowd of fans and devotees.

The celebrations continued to reflect Telangana’s rich cultural and spiritual traditions, with folk performances, devotional processions and decorated Bonam pots adding to the festive spirit across the Old City.