76th Annual Bonalu Festival Celebrations..

is a Historic Temple in Telangana State. This temple is situated at Hari Bowli, Shah Ali Banda in old city of Hyderabad. During the regime of King Tanasha (Golconda Ruler) of 17th Century two brothers Akkanna and Madanna were in key positions in the Government. Akkanna was Commander-in-chief and Madanna was Prime Minister. On their way to Golconda from their residence at Mankhal, Maheshwaram Akkanna and Madanna used to perform puja to MATHA and take rest in the Devidi where the temple was in existence. According to the ancestors, the local people knew about the existence of Mahankali Temple inside the Mahal but general public were not allowed to enter.

After the Police action in september 1948 under the guidance of well known Arya Samaj Leader Mr. Late B.Venkat Swamy , Late Sri A Jangaiah, Late Sri. A.Narahari, Late Sri. P.Bashiah & Late Sri. N.Venkaiah found this ancient temple by breaking the Devdi wall. The owner of the Devdi late Mir Mohammed Anwar Ali, Khaja of Balda (City) helped them to make this temple available for public worship. They found the idol of Matha, Jyoti, Pooja Utensils, few Holy books, old leaves and cradles (Thotalu).The witness of this incident Late Sri.A.Jangaiah and Late Sri. V.Raja Shanker had taken further interest in the development of the temple.

The Khaja of Balda in whose mansion this temple was found permitted to construct the Mahankali Temple for which he spared about 10 yards for this purpose. He also donated Rs.50-00(Rupees Fifty) at that time for this purpose, since then every year the Bonalu and Mahankali Jatara is being celebrated during the month of Ashadam. This is the 70th Annual Bonalu celebrations.

With the efforts of Late Sri..A.Jangaiah Late.Sri. Nawada Muthaiah, Late Sri. Govind Rao Phatak, Late Sri.Dhan Raj Jain, Late.Sri Girdharilal Jain, Late.Sri. Pukrajmal Jain, Late.Sri Harmohan Pershad, Late.Sri. M.Rajaiah, Late.Sri. K.Satyanarayana, Late.Sri. Kasturi Venkaiah and Late.Sri. Madasu Govind Rao the temple was constructed step by step. Later with the keen interest of Late Sri. A Jangaiah, Late.Sri.V.Raja Shanker, Late Sri K. Krishna, Late Sri. A Raghunandan, Late Dr.V.Laxminarayana, Late Sri. D Raghunath, Late Sri..A.Padma Rao & Late Sri.K. Sukhdev Arya the temple renovation took place., Late Sri A Jangaiah took major part in renovation of temple by purchasing adjacent land of 27.02 Sq. Yards for Rs.21,000-00 (Rupees Twenty One thousand ) from Mrs. Rahmathunnisa Begum wife of Mr. Inayatullah Khan on 28-5-1987.

The original Matha Idol was damaged during the disturbances on 5-6-1998 and a new Matha idol was reinstalled by Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetadhipathi His Holiness Sri Sri Sri Jayendra Saraswathi Swamy Garu on 28th September 1998.

Sri N.Chandrababu Naidu, the then Chief Minister, Sri B. Madhava Reddy , Sri T. Devender Goud, Sri Krishna Yadav, Ministers, Sri P.Janardhana Reddy, CLP Leader, Dr Y.S. Raja Sekhara Reddy, PCC President, Sri Marri Shashidhar Reddy, MLA, BJP Leaders Sri Bandaru Dattatreya, Sri G.Kishan Reddy , Dr.K.Laxman and Sri Baddam Bal Reddy, DGP H.J Dora visited the Temple on the day of the incident. Sri S. Bala Subramanyam, IAS, Endowment Commissioner guided the renovation work of the Temple.

All India Congress team consisting of Sri Ghulam Nabi Azad and Sri N.K.P Salve visited the temple on 10th June 1998. Congress President and UPA Chair Person Smt Sonia Gandhi visited the Temple on 26th June 1998.

Late.Sri. K.M.Khan, Rajya Sabha Member contributed Rs. 5.00 lakhs out of his MP funds for the construction of Prayer Hall. The efforts of Sri.Veesaam setty Ayodhya Ramulu, Chairman, Akkanna Madanna Bhavanam Trust made it possible to get the land in front of the temple for the construction of prayer Hall. The Foundation Stone for Prayer hall was laid by Sri, Sathyanarayana Rao, PCC President on Sunday 8th October 2000. Sri P, Janardhana Reddy, Former CLP Leader and Sri K.M. Khan, MP were Chief Guests.

The First floor was constructed with the contribution of Sri Virender Agarwal & Brothers (Agra Sweet Ghar,Charkaman) named as Jagdish Hall and inaugurated by Dr A.ChakraPani, Chairman, AP Legislative Council on 24th March 2008.

The 2nd floor was completed with the contribution of Sri Sudhir Kumar Agarwal and named it as Dwaraka Hall and Inaugurated by Sri Nayini Narsimha Reddy,Home Minister on Thursday, 6th August 2015.

The temple is a symbol for the Hindu Muslim unity as Akkanna Madanna served as Commander in Chief and Minister during the regime of Tanasha. The temple was developed with the cooperation of Muslim brothers in the locality. The temple was visited by Smt.Sonia Gandhii and Former Chief Ministers, Dr.M.Channa Reddy, Dr.Y.S.Rajashekara Reddy, Dr K.Rosaiah and the present Chief Minister of Telangana, Sri. K.Chandra Sekhar Rao and several other important dignitaries..

Living example of Ganga Jamini Tehzeeb It is an age old tradition and custom that Sri Mahankali Matha Ghatam of Akkanna Madanna temple will be taken out in a procession on an elephant every year, similar to that of secunderabad Ujjaini Mahankali Temple. A unique and critical situation raised in the year 1999 as the zoo elephant Rani was sick with the sudden burst of crackers in a procession of TDP Party at Nizam College in the month of May and was unable to participate in the procession.

There was only one other elephant available in the Zoo which was purchased by Nizam trust and kept in the Zoo for maintenance with a condition that it would be used for Bibi ka Alam procession during Moharrum only and it should not be given to other processions. The temple Committee approached the State Government to provide that elephant for Bonalu procession but they simply rejected our request on the pretext of its agreement with Nizam Trust in the year 1980.

Late Sri Alladi Rajkumar, then TDP Rajya Sabha member also met higher ups and Nizam Trust Secretary but no one was willing to interfere in this issue.

Sri G.Niranjan, President and Sri Syed Yousuf Hashmi, Senior Congress Leaders met Sri Asif Pasha, Former Minister and Secretary of Nizam Trust. But they also out rightly rejected as they were not willing to go against their agreement with the Government.

Sri G.Niranjan, President brought this to the notice of Nizam Trust in a letter on 23rd July 1999 and requested for their elephant for Bonalu which will set as an example for future generations about the Ganga Jamuni Tehazeeb of Hyderabad City and it strengthens the ties of brotherhood among the both the communities.

Next day a news item was published prominently in Deccan Chronicle i.e, on 24th July 1999 under the heading "BONALU AWAITS NIZAM'S HASHMI AS RANI IS SICK " Fortunately this news item was seen by Prince Muffakam Jah , Chairman , Nizam Trust and he directed the Trust to provide the elephant for Bonalu

Thus since 1999 the same elephant is being used for Moharrum and Bonalu every year and this is a living example for Ganga Jamuni Tehazeeb of Twin Cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad.

During the Mahankali Jathara and procession, the temple procession will be in the fore front with the Matha Ghatam on well decorated elephant.

The temple committee is organizing Samuhika Kumkumarchana by women devotees on all Fridays in the month of Ashadam in which hundreds of devotees are participating.

A BONALU PHOTO EXHIBITION is being organized every year for the benefit of new generation to know the glory of Bonalu Festival

The Temple Annual Brahmothsavalu will be celebrated every year for three days from Aashweeja Shudda Panchami to Ashweja shudda sapthami on a grand scale. Sathyanarayana Swamy puja and Anna Prasada vitharana takes place on the day of purnima every month

All the devotees are requested to make it convenient to visit the temple to seek the blessings of Sri Mahankali Matha.

Temple in News

• The 1998 Attack on the Temple More details
• The Amarana Nirahara Diksha of 2000 More details
• The Elephant problem in 1999 More details