Hyderabad's Akkanna-Madanna Mahankali Temple Prepares for Grand Bonalu

The Akkanna-Madanna Mahankali Temple is a very old and special temple in Hyderabad, India.

Every year, it celebrates a big festival called Bonalu, where people give thanks to the goddess Mahankali with offerings like rice, jaggery and curd.

This year, the festival has many rituals planned from the end of the week.

The most exciting part is a parade with a richly decorated elephant carrying a special pot called a Ghatam.

The parade will walk through the old part of Hyderabad, passing famous places like Charminar, and thousands of people will come to watch.

The temple is linked to two brothers, Akkanna and Madanna, who served the last Qutb Shahi ruler long ago.

The temple was hidden for many years and was only opened to public worship after 1948.

Now it is one of the most important places for Bonalu celebrations in the Old City, a time of joy, drumming and tradition for everyone in Hyderabad.