Overview

• Turmeric-smeared Pothuraju sentinels led Baligampa processions through Lal Darwaza, symbolically biting pumpkins and sprinkling offerings over streets.
• Devotees, including many women in pattu sarees, carried bonams filled with cooked rice and jaggery to Sri Simhavahini Mahankali and Sri Akkanna Madanna temples.
• IT and Industries Minister D. Sridhar Babu and Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka presented silk robes and performed special prayers at key Old City shrines.
• Telangana government’s ₹20 crore Bonalu allocation and ₹1,290 crore temple development fund backed this year’s festivities with direct support to 2,783 temples.
• Hyderabad Police deployed Task Force, SHE Teams and Special Branch units and enforced traffic diversions to secure the festival before Monday’s Rangam and ghatam procession.