Kishan Reddy visits Ujjaini Mahankali Temple during Bonalu
Synopsis
Union Coal and Mines Minister and BJP Telangana president G. Kishan Reddy visited the historic Ujjaini Mahankali Temple in Secunderabad on August 9, 2026, during Bonalu, praying for the health and peace of all devotees.
Key Takeaways
Kishan Reddy visited the Ujjaini Mahankali Temple in Secunderabad on August 9, 2026 during the Bonalu festival.
He prayed for the health, happiness, and peace of all, posting his visit in Telugu on X.
The Ujjaini Mahankali Temple is a 19th-century shrine and a central venue for Bonalu processions and rituals.
Bonalu is an annual Telangana festival held in July–August honouring Goddess Mahankali with traditional offerings.
Political participation in Bonalu is a long-standing tradition across parties in the Hyderabad urban belt.
On the occasion of Bonalu, Union Coal and Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy visited the Ujjaini Mahankali Temple in Secunderabad on Sunday, August 9, 2026, seeking the blessings of Goddess Mahankali and praying for the health, happiness, and peace of all.
Posting in Telugu, the Minister wrote: 'ఈ సందర్బంగా ఆ శక్తి స్వరూపిణి మహంకాళి అమ్మవారు అందరికీ ఆయురారోగ్యాలు, సుఖశాంతులు ప్రసాదించాలని మనసారా కోరుకుంటున్నాను' — 'On this occasion, I wholeheartedly pray that Goddess Mahankali, the embodiment of divine power, bestows health, happiness, and peace upon everyone.'
A century-old temple at the heart of Bonalu
The Ujjaini Mahankali Temple in Secunderabad is one of the oldest and most venerated shrines associated with the Bonalu festival, with roots tracing back to the 19th century. Every year during the July–August season, lakhs of devotees from across the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad converge here to offer the traditional 'bonam' — a pot of cooked rice — to the goddess. The temple serves as a focal point for the festival's grandest processions and rituals.Bonalu and political participation in Telangana
Bonalu is not just a religious event — it is a defining cultural moment for Telangana. Elected representatives across party lines, from BJP to Congress to BRS, have long made temple visits during the festival a visible part of their public engagement in the Hyderabad urban belt. As BJP Telangana state president, Kishan Reddy's visit to one of the festival's most prominent shrines reflects that established tradition of cultural participation in the region.Point of View
Particularly in the Hyderabad–Secunderabad urban corridor where the party has been working to consolidate its base. As both a Union Minister and the state party president, his public participation in one of Telangana's most emotionally resonant festivals carries dual weight — personal devotion and political visibility. Such moves are standard cultural-outreach practice across parties in the state. The visit signals no new policy direction but underscores the BJP's continued effort to embed itself in the cultural fabric of a state it won significant ground in during recent elections.
NationPress
9 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Bonalu festival in Telangana?
Bonalu is an annual Hindu festival celebrated in Telangana, primarily in Hyderabad and Secunderabad, during July–August. Devotees offer a pot of cooked rice called 'bonam' to Goddess Mahankali to seek her blessings for health and prosperity.
Where is the Ujjaini Mahankali Temple located?
The Ujjaini Mahankali Temple is located in Secunderabad, Telangana. It is one of the oldest temples associated with the Bonalu festival, with origins in the 19th century.
Why did G. Kishan Reddy visit the Mahankali Temple?
G. Kishan Reddy visited the Ujjaini Mahankali Temple in Secunderabad on August 9, 2026, on the occasion of the Bonalu festival to seek the goddess's blessings and pray for the well-being of all.
Who is G. Kishan Reddy?
G. Kishan Reddy is the Union Minister of Coal and Mines in the Indian government and the president of the BJP's Telangana state unit. He is a senior BJP leader from Hyderabad.
Do politicians visit temples during Bonalu?
Yes. Elected representatives from BJP, Congress, BRS and other parties have long participated in Bonalu by visiting major temples in Hyderabad and Secunderabad as part of cultural and public outreach during the festival season.
