When one devotee told people were dying in the state due to viral fevers and other vector-borne diseases, she said it was due to lack of sanitation and cleanliness.  It was a slap on the face of the municipal administration, as municipalities and corporations including the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), were not providing proper sanitation, leading to spread of diseases.

Rangam is an event conducted on the second and last day of the Bonalu festival held at the Ujjaini Mahankali temple in Secunderabad. Devotees had gathered since the morning to hear the predictions by the young unmarried woman. Though it started an hour and a half late, the wait for answers to problems made it worthwhile.

“Will there be peace and tranquility this year?” asked one devotee. She replied in the affirmative but said, “People are becoming more greedy for wealth and politicians are misusing their power. Officials are forgetting their responsibilities towards the society.” She warned that such people would not be spared and punished at an appropriate time.

Despite the copious rains, prices of essential commodities continued to skyrocket causing more problems for the common man was the common refrain. She said this was happening due to greediness among certain sections and assured she would take care of them and prices would be brought down.

The ritual ended with a colourful procession of goddess Mahankali taken out on a bedecked elephant and taken to nearby localities. The procession was led by Pothurajus who danced to the pulsating drumbeats.