Hyderabad’s Golden Bonam offered to Goddess Kanaka Durga in Vijayawada

The traditional Golden Bonam from Hyderabad was offered to Goddess Kanaka Durga at the Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy Varla Devasthanam atop Indrakeeladri on Sunday amid a large congregation of devotees during the ongoing Ashada festivities.

Folk artistes perform during the Bonalu procession organised by the Telangana-based Bhagyanagar Sri Mahankali Jatara Bonalu Utsavalu Ummadi Devalayala Uregimpu Committee in Vijayawada on Sunday.
| Photo Credit:
G.N. Rao

The offering was made by devotees from Telangana under the aegis of the Bhagyanagar Sri Mahankali Jatara Bonalu Utsavala United Temples Procession Committee, continuing a 16-year tradition of presenting the Golden Bonam to the presiding deity as a mark of devotion.

Folk artistes perform during the Bonalu procession organised by the Telangana-based Bhagyanagar Sri Mahankali Jatara Bonalu Utsavalu Ummadi Devalayala Uregimpu Committee in Vijayawada on Sunday.
| Photo Credit:
G.N. Rao

The programme began with special rituals at Jammi Doddi in Brahmin Street, after which the ceremonial procession proceeded to Indrakeeladri. The Golden Bonam was offered to the Goddess amid devotional chants and participation of thousands of devotees.

Anticipating a heavy influx of pilgrims owing to the Bonalu offering from Telangana and the customary Ashada Saare offerings by devotees from Andhra Pradesh, the temple administration suspended protocol and VIP darshan from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Temple Executive Officer V.K. Seena Naik said the decision was taken to ensure the smooth movement of devotees. He said more than 85,000 devotees had visited the temple on the previous Sunday and an even larger turnout was expected this week because of the Bonalu offering.

Mr. Naik said the timing, route and conduct of the Bonalu procession were decided by the organisers from Hyderabad, while the Devasthanam facilitated the visiting devotees and made arrangements for the smooth conduct of the offering.

To manage the heavy rush, the Devasthanam set up separate queue lines for devotees bringing Ashada Saare offerings, deployed additional personnel and coordinated with the police for crowd and traffic management.