Rs. 5 crore for ‘Bonalu’ festival this year: Nayini

Hyderabad: To showcase Telangana’s culture in a grand manner, the state government is going to spend more money than last year, amounting to Rs. 5 crore to celebrate the state festival ‘Bonalu’ officially this year by giving special grants to temples in the city, said Home Minister Nayini Narasimha Reddy after chairing a review meeting with Ministers, temple officials, and bureaucrats in Hyderabad.

The Home Minister, who is also the member of Bonalu Utsav Committee, said all the civic bodies in the city like Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, Hyderabad Police, Tourism Department, Electricity board, and Water board were being kept in the loop to ensure that the iconic annual folk festival passes off smoothly.

Bonalu celebrations will begin from July 4 at Jagadambika temple atop Golconda Fort and will continue for the next four Sundays culminating in the Mahankali Jatara at Lal Darwaza near Charminar in Hyderabad.

Speaking at the meeting, Telangana Cinematography Minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav said, “We will give money to temples which are not under the Endowments Department as well, and will showcase Telangana culture with cultural programmes and festive lighting.”

“We celebrated Godavari Pushkars in a grand manner and now we will leave no stone unturned to ensure that Bonalu is celebrated in a fittingly grand manner along with Krishna Pushkars,” said Mr. Indra Karan Reddy.

The meeting was attended by Excise Minister Padma Rao, Mayor Bonthu Rammohan, and GHMC commissioner Mahender Reddy.