A city in celebration as Hyderabad marks Bonalu
The drums began early, the bonams arrived in a bright procession and the streets around Lal Darwaza slowly turned into a moving canvas of turmeric
The drums began early, the bonams arrived in a bright procession and the streets around Lal Darwaza slowly turned into a moving canvas of turmeric, vermilion, neem leaves and flowers. By evening, the Ashada Bonalu celebrations had given Hyderabad’s Old City its familiar festive pulse, even as large parts of the city appeared unusually quiet. Several shops across Hyderabad remained shut on Sunday, while the usually busy roads saw thinner traffic on the weekend. However, the quiet streets were punctuated by the sound of drums, devotional songs and the steady movement of devotees towards temples. At the Sri Simhavahini Mahankali Temple in Lal Darwaza, and in temples across the city, women carrying decorated bonam pots made their way through the crowds, many decked in colourful saris and traditional jewellery.
The smell of incense mingled with that of food being prepared for the festival, while groups of devotees waited patiently for darshan. “The streets feel different today. Usually there is traffic and noise everywhere, but once the procession starts, everyone seems to slow down and become part of the festival,” said a devotee from Manikonda. The festival also had a noticeable impact on the city’s meat markets. Chicken shops reported a rush in demand, with several outlets running short of stock even in the evening as families prepared festive meals. “We had more customers than usual and the stock moved very quickly. By evening, it was difficult to keep up with the demand,” said Narender, a chicken shop owner in Secunderabad’s Alwal. For many residents, however, Bonalu remained as much about neighbourhood traditions as the large temple celebrations.
“Every year we wait for this day. We decorate the bonam, visit the temple and meet relatives. It is one of those occasions when the whole neighbourhood feels like one family,” said Ravi Pulakesi, a resident of Marredpally. The festivities unfolded under a heightened security blanket. Hyderabad Commissioner of Police V.C. Sajjanar inspected arrangements at the Lal Darwaza temple and offered prayers to the deity. He said robust security measures had been put in place for 48 hours in and around the temple. Around 2,400 police personnel were deployed in two shifts for bandobast duties, while SHE Teams and crime teams were pressed into service. Static pickets were also positioned at temples to protect devotees. The police deployed AI-enabled cameras for continuous surveillance, particularly to identify suspected thieves and chain-snatchers.
The BriefWire