Devotees carrying are more important than VIPs: Ponnam Prabhakar on Bonalu
Hyderabad in-charge Minister Ponnam Prabhakar held a review meeting with officials of various departments on the conduct of Bonalu — a festival that reverberates with the culture of Telangana — at Sri Ujjaini Mahakali Devasthanam in Secunderabad.
Mr. Prabhakar said the festival has no political overtones as it was a public festival and it should be conducted devoid of politics. He said irrespective of the government arrangements, the participation and support of locals would make it a smooth affair and wanted them to cooperate with the government.
Mr. Prabhakar said the review was held for the conduct of the festival in 3,600 temples across the city though the major celebrations are organised at Golconda, Ujjain Mahakali, Balkampet and Lal Darwaza temples.
He said the devotees carrying the bonam were more important to the temple authorities than the VIPs.
Meanwhile, the Minister also announced the schedule of VIPs who would present silk clothes to the goddess at various temples on the days the festival is celebrated.
Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy would present the silk clothes at Sri Ujjaini Mahakali Temple, Secunderabad on July 13 followed by Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka at Sri Simhavahini Mahankali Temple, Lal Darwaja on July 20; Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy at Sri Mahankali Sahitya Mahakaleshwara Swamy Temple, Nacharam on July 20, Health Minister Damodar Rajanarsimha at Sri Darbar Maisamma Temple Karwan on July 20; Roads & Buildings Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy at Bhagyalakshmi Temple, Charminar on July 20 and IT Minister D Sridhar Babu at Sri Akkanna Madanna Temple, Hari Bowli on July 20.
Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy will offer pooja at Sri Kattamaisamma Temple, Chilkalguda; Mr. Prabhakar and Konda Surekha at Sri Yellamma Pochamma Devasthanam, Balkampet; Tummala Nageshwar Rao at Sri Nallapochamma Temple, Sabjimandi, Dansari Anasuya (Seethakka) at Qila Maisamma Temple, NTR Nagar; Jupally Krishna Rao at Sri Mahankali Temple, Meeralamandi; Vivek Venkataswamy at Sri Muthyalamma Temple, Bela; Vakiti Srihari at Sri Mahankali Temple, Goulipura and Adluri Lakshman at Sri Jagadamba Temple, Sultan Shahi.
Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar and Ministers Konda Surekha and Mr. Prabhakar will offer silk clothes at Sri Jagadamba Mahankali Temple, Golconda Kota; Council Chairman Gutta Sukhender Reddy at Sri Mahankali Temple, Uppuguda; MP Anil Kumar Yadav at Sri Bangaru Maisamma Temple, Boiguda; GHMC Mayor Gadwal Vijayalakshmi at Sri Bangaru Maisamma Temple, Hari Bowli; Council Deputy Chairman Banda Prakash at Sri Mahankali Temple, Amberpet and Deputy Speaker Ramachander Nayak at Sri Darbar Maisamma Temple, Aliabad.
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