Hyderabad: An elephant from Andhra Pradesh will be used for the Bonalu and Moharram processions in Hyderabad this year, replacing the animal previously brought from Karnataka.
The change comes after the Mutt in Davanagere, Karnataka, turned down the Telangana Endowments Department’s request to supply an elephant for religious events. No explanation was given for the refusal.
Following this, the department contacted a Mutt in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, which agreed to the request. A No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the appeal has been cleared by the Telangana Forest Department. The Andhra Pradesh Forest Department is expected to issue its NOC shortly, after which the remaining formalities will be completed.
Officials said the elephant identified for the processions has prior experience with religious events.
The request for an elephant originated from the Akkanna Madanna Mahankali temple, which formally approached the Endowments Department last month. Though Bonalu is recognised as a state festival, the department only takes action upon receiving official requisitions.
Temples, including the Sri Ujjaini Mahankali temple in Secunderabad and the Nalla Pochamma temple in Sabzi Mandi, also organise major processions during Bonalu. The same elephant will be used in the Bibi-Ka-Alam procession during Moharram, following the conclusion of the Bonalu celebrations.
Each year, the department faces logistical hurdles in arranging an elephant. Processions require formal applications, payment of fees, and inter-state approvals. In addition to transport, trained handlers and veterinary staff must also be arranged.
To streamline this process, both the Endowments and Forest departments have urged temples like those in Yadagirigutta and Vemulawada to adopt elephants. However, temple authorities are still weighing maintenance costs and logistical demands before making a decision.
