Hyderabad:
Oracle Matangi Swarnalatha participated in the Rangam program at Ujjaini Mahankali Temple in Secunderabad on Monday. She predicted that the State would receive plenty of rain and have a good harvest. She also promised to protect those suffering from various health issues.
Swarnalatha performed Rangam while standing on an earthen pot at the temple premises. She invoked the Goddess in the presence of BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar.
The senior priest shared the joy of devotees who prayed during the 15 days of the Bonalu festival. Swarnalatha responded, saying she was very satisfied with their prayers. She welcomed women, young girls, and boys to offer Bonams of any shape or size, promising to accept them with happiness.
The Oracle advised devotees to perform pujas for five weeks, offering jaggery, pure water, and neem to the deity daily.
When asked about rainfall, she assured that the State would receive ample rains this year, benefiting farmers with good yields and prosperity.
Swarnalatha also advised people to focus on physical work. For modern lifestyle ailments like diabetes, she suggested avoiding blind medication and instead engaging in manual labor in agricultural fields.
After Rangam, Potharajus, considered brothers of the deity Mahankali, performed several rituals. The idol of the Goddess was then taken out in a procession.
An elephant named Rupavathi from Karnataka joined the Bonalu procession at the temple. The procession traveled around General Bazar, R P Road, and other nearby areas in Secunderabad. Potharajus and Ghatams, accompanied by ‘teen maar’ beats, drew attention from residents.
The two days of Lashkar Bonalu concluded grandly. Thousands of devotees visited Ujjaini Mahankali Temple in Secunderabad to offer prayers to Goddess Mahankali.
