Hyderabad: The Devotees from the city are anxious on the Bonalu procession with Matha Ghatam on Elephant following the recent decision of the state government to not use Elephant Rajani for the annual procession of the festival. They are urging the state government to take steps to bring Rajani if necessary while calling for the immediate intervention of the Chief Minister of the state K. Chandrasekhar Rao into the issue to resolve it. It may be noted here that the Akkanna Madanna Mahankali temple has made all arrangements for the successful conduct of Bonalu Festival on Sunday (July 28) and Sri Mahankali Jathara and procession on Monday (July 29).
As the devotees from the Twin Cities and neighboring districts will visit the temple to seek the blessings, steps were taken for the Darshan of Matha without any inconvenience. It all started when the state government decided to stop the usage of the elephant Rajani in the annual procession. An elephant brought from Karnataka was also abruptly sent back during the recent Ujjaini Mahankali Temple procession held on the last Monday.
Keeping this in mind, the Nehru Zoological Authorities and Endowment Department officials are trying to bring another Elephant Sudha belonging to Sri Mahalaxmi Devasthanam from Chippalakatti of Ramdurg of Belgaum in Karnataka state.The Elephant is expected to leave for Hyderabad on Saturday night and reach the destination on Sunday evening. The Elephant Sudha will participate in Bonalu procession of Sri Nalla Pochamma Temple, Subjimandi on Sunday 28th and on Monday, 29th in the Old City Bonalu Procession of Sri Akkanna Madanna Mahankali Temple. “ We request the State Government to keep the Elephant Rajani stand by with necessary Court orders in case of any problem with the Elephant of other State in view of the last week’s experience. It is unfortunate that we are begging outside with bowl in our hands whereas every thing is in our house and Rajani is fit to participate in the procession.
Due to the adamant attitude of the officials and the lack of Coordination among them, the age old religious practices and sentiments of the people are being affected,” G. Niranjan the patron of the temple said while urging CM KCR to interfere into the issue and resolve it permanently as it would affect the sentiments of the people of the city. (NSS)
