It’s Menaka after Renuka’s demise at Bonalu procession

A new elephant will lead the procession in the city this year

After a year’s break, a new elephant will lead the Bonalu procession in the city to be celebrated over the next few days. The elephant Menaka from Raichur will lead the Bonalu celebrations at the Akkanna Madanna Temple, but the event is likely to be a tame affair due to COVID-19 protocol. “The committee has decided to follow COVID-19 protocol and darshan will be with social distancing and only masked devotees will be allowed darshan,” said G. Niranjan of Akkanna Madanna Temple Bonalu Celebrations Committee. On July 13, the Endowments Department secured a No Objection Certificate from the Chief Conservator of Forests to bring the elephant from Veerabhadra Shiva Math in Matamari-Gabbar near Raichur in Karnataka to Hyderabad. The elephant will be used for all the three Bonalu processions at the Mahankali Temple in Secunderabad, the Nalla Pochamma Temple in Karwan, and the Akkanna Madanna Temple in Hari Bowli.