Ujjaini Mahankali Temple

Goddess Mahankali’s stone idol has four hands carved on it, each of which holds a Sword, Damaru, spear and an amrut vessel. She is seated in a Padmasana and covered in a layer of silver with Vendi Kavacham. Beside Goddess, Mahankali resides another Hindu deity called Goddess Manikyaladevi.

Sri Mahankali Ammari Jathra is a festival celebrated in Ashada which falls in July or August. It is popularly referred to as Bonam. During the festival, a traditional procession of worshipping Goddess Mahankali takes place.

Ghatothsavam

On the first Sunday of Ashada, a ghatam upon which the Goddess would be seated is decorated with flowers, buntings and festoons. The temple and the street on which it is located is glimmering with electric lights. After the ghatam is decorated, the Goddess is taken from the Karbala Maidan, where the decoration began and brought into the temple like a bridal-procession. Over the next fifteen days, the ghatam is taken to all the houses in the vicinity with dhols, music and mangal vadyam.

Kolupu Potharaju Bali

On Sunday, after fifteen days, Kolupu is celebrated. In the olden days, animal sacrifice was imminent. A buffalo would be sacrificed, and its head was worn by one of the devotees to dance about, displaying the skills of a Potharaju. However, after the animal sacrifice was prohibited, the ritual of Kushmand Bali (Gummadikaya Bali) is performed.

Rangam

After the Kolupu Potharaju Bali comes Rangam, where an unmarried woman stands on a pot in front of Goddess Mahankali’s idol and prays. The Goddess answers on return by conveying all of the good events that are forthcoming. Many come to witness this spiritually enlightening tradition.

Saganamputa (Farewell)

On a Monday that follows, the ghatam is immersed in water. The procession is followed by the humdrum of dhols, devotees dancing ahead of the ghatam and bidding farewell to Goddess Mahankali.

According to a rumour, In 1813, there was a cholera epidemic in the present day Secundrabad and many lives were lost to it. Suriti Appaiah, the Doli bearer who belonged to the military battalion, took upon himself to seek the blessings of God and rid people of their suffering. He went to the Mahankali temple in Ujjain and asked Goddess Kali to cure people of the epidemic misfortunes. He offered his devotion in the form of a temple that he built after reaching Secundrabad. After he reached, the people were healed and thus came the temple. He set up a stone idol of Goddess Kali and worshipped her. Since then, many women and men come to seek the blessings of Goddess Mahankali at the temple. The temple is bustling with devotees especially on Sundays and Mondays due to Ashada Jathara, the prominent days for worshipping Mahankali.

Ujjaini Mahankali Temple is located within the town at a distance of 1.2 km from S. D. Road, Secundrabad, Telangana. This distance can be covered using an auto. However, walking is encouraged to conserve non-renewable natural resources.

Secunderabad has well-connected buses. The Secunderabad Bus Station on Regimental Bazar Main Road, Shivaji Nagar is 1.7 km from the temple. In a car, auto or a taxi, it would take 6 minutes to cover this distance.

Secunderabad Railway Station situated in Railway Office Colony, Botiguda is at a distance of 2.1 km from the temple, and it will take 8 minutes to cover this distance. Autos or private cabs can conveniently cover this distance.