Hyderabad: Thousands of devotees thronged the famous Laldarwaja Simhavahini Mahankali Ammavari temple in Hyderabad's old city to participate in the joyous Bonalu festival on Sunday.
Hundreds of women, carrying the "Bonam" (cooked rice and jaggery) in brass pots on their heads, queued up near the temple to offer the bonam to the deity.
As part of the festivities, Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka will present silk clothes to the goddess on behalf of the state government and perform a special pooja, temple sources said.
Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar and a few Telangana ministers are also expected to offer prayers to the goddess.
To ensure the smooth progress of the festival, traffic restrictions were implemented in the temple's vicinity. Elaborate arrangements were made by the temple authorities and the police to facilitate the celebration.
Additionally, the Bonalu festival was also observed in other parts of the city, including the Secunderabad cantonment area.