Bonalu to be taken on Karnataka elephant ‘Gaja Lakshmi’

Roshan Bint Raheem

Hyderabad: Since the year 1999, the procession of Bonalu was taken on an elephant named ‘Hashmi’ of Nizam Trust, which was allowed by Mukkaram Jah.

Later, the procession was carried on the elephant ‘Rajani’ (the local elephant from Nehru Zoological Park) for 15 years. Due to its Health Issues, the Government has now arranged an elephant ‘Gaja Lakshmi’ from the neighbouring state of Karnataka.

This decision has been taken in view of the High Court Order, which restricted to take services of Rajani due to its ill-health.

The Elephant from the Veera Thapasvi Veerabadhra Shiva Charyaru Samasthanam Muth, of Gulbarga, Karnataka, will be arriving shortly.

The elephant will be arriving in a huge truck on July 21 and its services will be utilised on July 22 in Secunderabad (Ujjain Mahakali Temple), On July 28 in sabzi Mandi (Nallapochamma Temple) and on July 29 in the old city (Akkanna Madanna Temple).

“The curator at Nehru Zoological Park in Hyderabad is directed to provide a trained Veterinary officer with tranquilizing equipment and drugs to accompany the elephant during processions and to attend to any emergency or untoward incident.” says the Government Order.