Published Aug 04, 2026 | 10:50 AM ⚊ Updated Aug 04, 2026 | 10:50 AM
The Ujjaini Mahankali Temple in Secunderabad adorned with floral arrangements for Bonalu (Credit: Sreshta Ladegaam/ South First)
Synopsis: Oracle Swarnalatha predicted heavy rains, fire accidents and loss of life in the year ahead. Later in the day, a sudden spell of rain briefly disrupted the darshan. The government has been making the necessary arrangements for the ‘Jathara’ at the Simhavahini Sri Mahankali Temple in Lal Darwaza, Old Hyderabad, on 9 August.
A day after witnessing huge crowds and an almost uninterrupted flow of VIPs, the Sri Ujjaini Mahankali Temple in Secunderabad wore a far more subdued look on Monday, 3 August.
A spell of rain in the afternoon kept footfalls much lower than the first day of Lashkar Bonalu.
However, the temple premises remained under tight police security. The Mahankali Street, the main approach to the shrine, was shut to all traffic. Vehicles were allowed only as far as Rashtrapati Road, and devotees walked the remaining distance to the temple on foot.
Devotees at the Ujjaini Mahankali Temple. (Sreshta Ladegaam/South First).
Big hoardings bearing the photographs of politicians from various parties lined the RP Road, a now-familiar sight during Bonalu season.
Street vendors occupied both sides of the walkway to the temple, even as most shops in Mahankali Street and Ranigunj, usually hubs of commercial activity, stayed closed for the festival.
Hundreds of devotees who thronged the Mahankali Shrine had a seamless darshan before the skies opened up for a quick afternoon spell of rain. Devotees continued to pour in after the splash, albeit in lesser numbers than expected.
Also Read: Lashkar Bonalu begins, VIP influx irks devotees
Earlier in the day, the central ‘Rangam’ ritual was held. As part of the ritual, an oracle delivered the forecast for crops, weather, and overall well-being of the state for the year ahead.
A devotee dressed in traditional attire. (Sreshta Ladegaam/South First)
Matangi Swarnalata delivered the prophecy on Monday. She leaned heavily on caution and warned of heavy rains in the coming months. She also urged caution against fire accidents, predicting that many lives would be lost.
She voiced displeasure over devotees’ conduct, accusing some of having grown arrogant by failing to abide by her earlier advice. She renewed the recurring demand for the installation of an idol for the Goddess at the temple. She warned of consequences if the idol was not consecrated within six months, prompting temple authorities to publicly commit to completing the installation within a year.
Swarnalatha rebuked parents for not disciplining their children, and referenced unspecified transgressions within families and relationships, which she said would not go unpunished.
Also Read: When Bonalu brought Secunderabad to life
With Lashkar Bonalu set to close on Tuesday, 4 August, the state government was making the necessary arrangements for the ‘Jathara’ at the Simhavahini Sri Mahankali Temple in Lal Darwaza, Old Hyderabad, on 9 August. A grand Bonalu procession will be held on 11 August to mark the end of the Bonalu season.
The police have deployed 2,000 personnel for security duty in Old City ahead of the Lal Darwaza Bonalu. More deployments would follow.
Minister for Transport and BC Welfare Ponnam Prabhakar addressed the complaints made by Joginis on Day 1 of Lashkar Bonalu. He promised that the government would ensure better facilities and accommodations at Lal Darwaza.
The minister also announced that the state government and the departments concerned were considering issuing official identity cards for Joginis.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
