CM Revanth Reddy Joins Lashkar Bonalu at Ujjaini Mahankali Temple
Synopsis
Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy joined the Lashkar Bonalu Jathara at the Ujjaini Mahankali temple in Secunderabad on 2 August 2026, offering prayers, a ceremonial bonam, and silk garments on behalf of the Telangana state government alongside three Cabinet ministers.
Key Takeaways
Revanth Reddy personally attended the Lashkar Bonalu Jathara at the Ujjaini Mahankali temple, Secunderabad on 2 August 2026 .
The Chief Minister performed special prayers and offered a bonam (ceremonial rice pot) and silk garments on behalf of the Telangana state government.
Cabinet ministers Konda Surekha , Ponnam Prabhakar , and Danasari Anasuya 'Seethakka' participated alongside the CM.
Bonalu is a major Telangana folk festival dedicated to Goddess Mahankali , with the Lashkar Jathara among its most prominent events.
The Congress-led Telangana government has maintained consistent high-profile participation in regional Hindu festivals since taking office in December 2023 .
Drums, devotion, and the fragrance of fresh offerings — the ancient streets of Secunderabad came alive on Sunday, 2 August 2026, as the Ujjaini Mahankali temple drew thousands for the celebrated Lashkar Bonalu Jathara. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy led the Telangana state government's participation, offering prayers and traditional tributes to the goddess at the heart of the festival.
Bonam and silk offered on behalf of the state
The Chief Minister's Office confirmed that CM Revanth Reddy personally visited the Sri Ujjaini Mahankali temple in Secunderabad, performed special prayers (pratyeka poojas), and — alongside his ministerial colleagues — presented the goddess with a bonam (a ceremonial pot of cooked rice) and pattuvasthralu (silk garments) on behalf of the Telangana state government.
Joining the Chief Minister were Cabinet ministers Konda Surekha, Ponnam Prabhakar, and Danasari Anasuya 'Seethakka', along with several elected representatives, all participating in what the CMO described as a grand, festive celebration — angaranga vaibhavanga.
Lashkar Bonalu and the Ujjaini Mahankali tradition
Bonalu is one of Telangana's most distinctive and deeply rooted folk festivals, dedicated to Goddess Mahankali as a gesture of gratitude and protection. The Lashkar Bonalu Jathara at the Ujjaini Mahankali temple in Secunderabad is among the most prominent of the season's celebrations, drawing devotees from across the twin cities. The festival cycle typically begins at Golconda and culminates at Secunderabad, with the Ujjaini Mahankali event commanding special reverence.
Successive Telangana governments have made visible state-level participation in Bonalu a consistent tradition — a recognition of the festival's deep cultural and community significance for the region's people.
A government's presence in the crowd
The turnout of multiple senior ministers alongside the Chief Minister signals the Congress-led government's intent to maintain strong cultural engagement with Telangana's Hindu festival calendar. Revanth Reddy, who has led the state since December 2023, has continued the practice of high-profile government participation in events like Bonalu — a pattern that reflects both tradition and political optics in a state where such festivals carry enormous public resonance.
As the Bonalu season continues, attention will turn to the remaining jathara events and, later in the year, to the equally significant Bathukamma festival.
Point of View
Multi-minister presence at the Lashkar Bonalu Jathara is consistent with a broader pattern of state-level cultural engagement that every successive Telangana government has maintained. For Revanth Reddy, who came to power in December 2023, these appearances serve both as genuine acknowledgment of Telangana's distinct cultural identity and as a signal to the state's large devotee base. Bonalu, unlike many pan-India festivals, is deeply specific to the Telangana region — making participation in it a marker of regional belonging rather than mere optics. The attendance of three Cabinet ministers alongside the CM suggests a deliberate, coordinated show of institutional respect for the tradition.
NationPress
2 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Lashkar Bonalu Jathara?
The Lashkar Bonalu Jathara is a major annual festival held at the Ujjaini Mahankali temple in Secunderabad, Telangana. It is one of the most prominent events in the Bonalu festival season, during which devotees offer ceremonial pots of cooked rice (bonam) to Goddess Mahankali as an expression of gratitude and devotion.
Why did CM Revanth Reddy attend Bonalu 2026?
Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy attended the Lashkar Bonalu Jathara on 2 August 2026 to offer prayers and present a bonam and silk garments on behalf of the Telangana state government, continuing the tradition of official state participation in the festival.
Which ministers joined CM Revanth Reddy at Bonalu?
Cabinet ministers Konda Surekha, Ponnam Prabhakar, and Danasari Anasuya 'Seethakka' joined Chief Minister Revanth Reddy at the Lashkar Bonalu Jathara at the Ujjaini Mahankali temple in Secunderabad.
Where is the Ujjaini Mahankali temple located?
The Ujjaini Mahankali temple is located in Secunderabad, Telangana. It is a historic temple central to the annual Bonalu celebrations and draws large numbers of devotees during the festival season.
What is a bonam in the Bonalu festival?
A bonam is a ceremonial pot filled with cooked rice, turmeric water, and jaggery that devotees carry on their heads as an offering to Goddess Mahankali during the Bonalu festival. It is the defining ritual of the celebration.
