Wp/efi/Bonalu Festival

Bonalu Festival (Goddess Mahankali Worship in Telangana)

Bonalu is a traditional and vibrant Hindu festival celebrated mainly in the **Telangana** region, particularly in **Hyderabad**, **Secunderabad**, and nearby districts like **Warangal** and **Karimnagar**. It is dedicated to the **Goddess Mahankali (Kali Mata)** and is observed during the **Ashada masam** (June–July).

The festival is marked by colorful processions, devotional rituals, and the offering of food (Bonam) to the goddess for the protection of the community and to ward off diseases.

Etymology

The name **Bonalu** is derived from the Telugu word **“Bonam”**, meaning **meal or offering**. It refers to the cooked rice dish offered to the goddess during the festival.

Historical Background

Bonalu is believed to have originated in the **19th century** during a major **plague outbreak in Hyderabad**. People prayed to Goddess Mahankali for her protection and, when the epidemic ended, began offering thanks by dedicating food, rituals, and processions. Since then, Bonalu became an annual tradition.

Duration and Timing

Bonalu is celebrated during the month of **Ashadam (June–July)**. It usually lasts for **4 weeks**, with different areas celebrating on successive Sundays:

**First Sunday** – Golconda Fort Bonalu
**Second Sunday** – Ujjaini Mahankali Temple, Secunderabad
**Third Sunday** – Lal Darwaza Mahankali Temple, Old City Hyderabad
**Fourth Sunday** – Matheswari Temple and other local shrines

Rituals and Ceremonies

1. Bonam Offering

Women prepare a special **offering (Bonam)** consisting of:

 * Cooked rice
 * Jaggery
 * Milk and curd
 * Tamarind

This offering is carried in a **brass or earthen pot**, decorated with neem leaves, turmeric, vermilion, and a lamp on top.
Women walk in a procession to the local Mahankali temple to offer Bonam.

2. Pothuraju

**Pothuraju** is a symbolic male protector of the goddess.
He is usually a well-built, bare-chested man dressed in red dhoti and smeared with turmeric and vermilion.
He dances vigorously to drums, leading the procession and clearing the way for women carrying Bonam.

3. Animal Sacrifice

In some traditional rituals, **goats and chickens are sacrificed** as offerings to the goddess.
This practice is still followed in rural and some urban areas, though discouraged officially.

4. Rangam (Oracle)

A woman from the community becomes a **possessed oracle**, believed to speak in the voice of the goddess.
She delivers prophecies and blessings to the crowd.

5. Ghatam Procession

The **Ghatam**, a decorated metal pot representing the goddess, is taken out in grand processions accompanied by drums, dancing, and folk music.

Cultural and Social Significance

Bonalu celebrates:

**Goddess worship and feminine divine power**
**Community health and protection**
**Unity among neighborhoods**
Deep **folk traditions**, unique to Telangana culture

Bonalu also includes performances of:

Telangana **folk songs**
Dappu dances (percussion)
Oggu Katha (oral storytelling)

Government Recognition

Declared as the **State Festival of Telangana** in 2014.
Large-scale celebrations are sponsored by the government with security, traffic control, and amenities.
Processions are attended by ministers and public representatives.

Environmental and Civic Aspects

In urban areas, awareness campaigns promote:

 * Plastic-free offerings
 * Eco-friendly idols and rituals
 * Cleanliness drives post-procession

Related Festivals

**Bathukamma** – Women’s floral festival of Telangana
**Sammakka Sarakka Jatara** – Tribal festival honoring female warriors
**Ashada Jatara** – Celebrated in rural Telangana during the same season

References

1. Telangana Culture Portal – Government of Telangana 2. The Hindu – “Bonalu Begins with Devotion” (2022) 3. Deccan Chronicle – “Pothuraju steals the show at Bonalu” 4. Telangana Tourism – Festival Guidebook 5. TOI – “Statewide Bonalu Celebrations” (2023)