Kishan Reddy Offers Prayers at Amberpet Mahankali Temple for Bonalu
Synopsis
Union Coal and Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy visited the Sri Mahankali temple in Amberpet, Hyderabad on August 9 with his family to offer special prayers and silk garments during the Bonalu festival, praying for the health and prosperity of all Telangana residents.
Key Takeaways
Kishan Reddy , Union Minister of Coal and Mines and BJP Telangana president, visited Sri Mahankali temple, Amberpet on August 9, 2026 .
The visit was in observance of Bonalu , an annual Telangana festival held during the Ashada month dedicated to Goddess Mahankali.
Reddy performed special prayers alongside his family and offered silk garments (pattuvastramulu) to the goddess.
He prayed for the longevity, good health, and eightfold prosperity ( ashta aishwaryalu ) of all people of Telangana.
The Amberpet Sri Mahankali temple is one of Hyderabad's prominent Bonalu shrines, drawing large devotee turnout each year.
During the sacred Ashada month, Union Coal and Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy visited the Sri Mahankali temple in Amberpet, Hyderabad on Sunday, August 9 to mark the Bonalu festival — one of Telangana's most beloved annual celebrations.
Reddy, who also serves as BJP Telangana state president, performed special prayers alongside his family and offered silk garments (pattuvastramulu) to the goddess. He prayed for the health, prosperity, and well-being of all people of the state, invoking the blessings of Goddess Mahankali for 'longevity, good health, and all eight forms of wealth' (ayurarogyalu and ashta aishwaryalu).
Bonalu: Telangana's Ashada Festival of Devotion
Bonalu is a deeply rooted Telangana tradition observed every year during the Ashada month of the Hindu calendar, dedicated to Goddess Mahankali and other forms of the mother goddess. Temples across Hyderabad and the wider Telangana region draw massive crowds during this period, with devotees offering cooked rice ('bonam') in earthen pots as a mark of gratitude and supplication. The Amberpet Sri Mahankali temple is one of the prominent shrines that anchors Bonalu celebrations in the city.BJP's Telangana Footprint and Cultural Outreach
For Reddy, the visit carries both personal and political resonance. As the BJP's top organisational figure in Telangana, participating in Bonalu is consistent with the party's broader effort to embed itself in the state's cultural fabric — a region where the Congress currently holds power. Indian political leaders across party lines routinely join regional festivals to signal solidarity with local traditions, and Reddy's family presence at the temple underscores the personal dimension of the gesture. With Bonalu processions drawing lakhs of devotees across Hyderabad, the festival represents one of the most visible expressions of Telangana's distinct cultural identity — and a moment no prominent leader in the state ignores.Point of View
But it carries added weight given BJP's ongoing effort to consolidate its presence in Telangana against a Congress government. Joining a mass festival with deep local identity signals the party's intent to be seen as culturally rooted in the state, not merely a northern import. For a Union Minister who doubles as state party president, such visible devotion serves both personal expression and organisational messaging. The gesture is unlikely to shift electoral calculus on its own, but it is a deliberate stitch in a longer cultural-outreach fabric.
NationPress
9 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Bonalu festival in Telangana?
Bonalu is an annual Hindu festival observed in Telangana during the Ashada month, dedicated to Goddess Mahankali and other mother goddess forms. Devotees offer cooked rice in earthen pots to the goddess as a gesture of gratitude and prayer for well-being.
Where is the Sri Mahankali temple in Amberpet?
The Sri Mahankali temple is located in Amberpet, a locality in Hyderabad, Telangana. It is one of the prominent temples associated with Bonalu celebrations in the city.
Why did Kishan Reddy visit the Mahankali temple?
Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy visited the Sri Mahankali temple in Amberpet on August 9, 2026 to offer prayers and silk garments during the Bonalu festival, and to pray for the health and prosperity of the people of Telangana.
What did Kishan Reddy offer at the Mahankali temple?
Reddy performed special prayers alongside his family and offered silk garments (pattuvastramulu) to Goddess Mahankali during the Bonalu festival.
What is G. Kishan Reddy's role in BJP Telangana?
G. Kishan Reddy serves as the BJP Telangana state president in addition to his role as Union Minister of Coal and Mines in the central government.
