Hyderabad: Endowments Minister Konda Surekha reviewed preparations for the Golconda Bonalu festival and directed all departments to ensure smooth and safe celebrations from July 16 to August 13. She said Hyderabad’s Ashada Bonalu reflected Telangana’s Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb and symbolised communal harmony.
The minister chaired a coordination meeting at the Jagadambika Mahankali Temple inside Golconda Fort on Friday. Meanwhile, she unveiled the Bonalu festival poster and brochure with public representatives and officials.
Konda Surekha said offering the first Bonam to Goddess Jagadambika Mahankali at Golconda remained a long-standing tradition. She instructed officials to complete all arrangements before the festival, which is expected to attract lakhs of devotees.
Officials must ensure smooth traffic, parking, queue lines, barricades, drinking water, sanitation, electricity, medical services, fire safety and special RTC bus services during the festival, she said.
Golconda Bonalu preparations reviewed by all departments
The minister also directed departments to complete arrangements for the Bonam procession, Thottela procession and Metla Puja beginning from Langar Houz on July 16. Further, she asked officials to maintain cleanliness in and around the temple premises.
Konda Surekha instructed officials to provide mobile toilets, drinking water facilities, medical camps and 108 ambulance services throughout the celebrations. Additionally, she asked departments to repair roads, steps, streetlights, high-mast lights, signboards and sheds before the festivities.
She directed the police to establish a dedicated control room and coordinate with all departments. She also instructed officials to display awareness posters carrying photographs of suspected offenders. The GHMC must complete civic works on schedule, she said. She also asked the electricity department to ensure safe electrical wiring.
The minister instructed all departments to take special care of children, senior citizens, pregnant women and nursing mothers. She also directed them to extend full cooperation to Shivasattulu during Bonam offerings. According to her, the cooperation between Hindu and Muslim communities during Bonalu and Muslim festivals reflected Telangana’s secular values and set an example for the country.
The meeting was attended by Karwan MLA Kausar Mohiuddin, Endowments Director Hanumantha Rao, Cultural Affairs Director Enugu Narasimha Reddy, Congress leader Osman al Hajri and officials from the Police, Traffic, Electricity, Health, GHMC and Information and Public Relations departments.
Finally, priests of the Jagadambika Mahankali Temple welcomed Konda Surekha with Purnakumbha Swagatham. She offered special prayers for good rainfall, prosperous crops and the well-being of the people of Telangana. The minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to providing the best possible facilities for devotees attending the Golconda Bonalu festival.