Bonalu 2022: A look at Telangana’s traditional Hindu festival

The annual Telangana traditional festival is extensively celebrated in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad.

The three-week festival kicked off on 3 July this year and will go on till 24 July.

What is Bonalu?

The festival is dedicated to goddess Mahakali, considered to be a ferocious avatar of Hindu goddess Durga.

Various village deities — Yellamma, Maisamma, Pochamma, Peddamma, Dokkalamma, Ankalamma, Poleramma, Maremma, and Nookalamma — are also worshipped during this time.
“We believe that the grama devatalu (village deities) would protect us from the water-borne diseases that occur during this time of the year. The goddesses will bless us all with good health among other things, ” Venkatamma said.

The name Bonalu is derived from the word ‘Bonam’, which means a meal or a feast in Telugu.

The festival begins during the Ashada Masam, a month in the lunisolar Telugu calendar and falls around July-August every year.

The festival is considered to be a form of thanksgiving to the goddess for fulfilling their wishes and special pujas are performed to appease her.

How is it celebrated?

The Bonam comprises rice cooked with milk and jaggery and is offered in a brass or earthen pot.

Venkatamma explained, ” I also mix pacchipulusu (tamarind water), chopped onions and curd in the Bonam. Then I decorate it with neem leaves, turmeric and vermilion.”

“This is followed by a ritual called ‘Ghatam’ where a lamp is lit and placed on top of the Bonam. It is then carried on their heads by women and is offered to the deity. If a woman conceives a child that year, she offers rice to the goddess separately,” Venkatamma said.

Venkatamma (second from left) and her daughter-in-law celebrate Bonalu. The latter is carrying Bonam on her head. (Supplied)

She added that bangles, a saree, blouse pieces and kudakalu (dry coconut) are also offered to the goddess Yellamma.

“Goat sacrifices are also made to appease the deities,” she said.

Another popular ritual includes ‘Rangam’ wherein a woman invokes goddess Mahakali onto herself and foretells the happenings of next year.

‘Potharaju’ is a turmeric-smeared man who dances to the tunes of drums at the procession called ‘palahram bandi’, is another popular personality one gets to see at the festivities.

“Men also carry thottelu, the four feet to 30 feet structures made from bamboo sticks, paper and bright confetti and considered as abodes for the goddess, to the temple as an offering to the deity,” Venkatamma told South First.

Telangana’s Animal Husbandry Minister TS Yadav shared photos on 15 July of Bonalu celebrations at Ujjain Mahakali temple. Potharajus can be seen in one of the pictures.

సికింద్రాబాద్ లోని శ్రీ ఉజ్జయిని మహంకాళి అమ్మవారి ఆలయ ముఖ ద్వారాల ను ప్రారంభించి మహంకాళి అమ్మవారికి కుటుంబసభ్యులతో కలిసి బంగారు బోనం సమర్పించడం జరిగింది. pic.twitter.com/0lpRGipcCM

— Talasani Srinivas Yadav (@YadavTalasani) July 15, 2022

Story of Bonalu’s origin

Bonalu’s origin goes as back to 1813 when a plague broke out in the Hyderabad region and claimed the lives of many.

It is said that a military battalion from Hyderabad, which was posted in Ujjain, got to know of this and prayed to goddess Mahakali of the Mahakali Shaktipith Temple in Ujjain.

In return, they vowed that they would install the idol of Mahakali in Secunderabad.

When the disease stopped spreading, the battalion kept their promise and even offered the goddess a meal after returning home.

It is said that the same tradition has been practised throughout.

There are other beliefs too according to which Bonalu is the time when Goddess Mahakali returns to her paternal home from her the heavens and is pampered, and treated with good food.

YA Sudhakar Reddy, HOD, Centre for Folk Culture Studies in the University of Hyderabad told South First, “The plague theory is partly true but historically, Bonalu is part of a pan-Indian ritual and not just Telangana. The story about plague is a part of the memory culture of people, which passes on from generation to generation.”

The Social Sciences professor added that the origin of Bonalu comes from the Jamba puranam and Garudapuranam myth where Yellamma is mentioned.

Celebrations

The festival starts at the hilltop Jagadamba Temple Golconda Fort every year and moves to Ujjaini Mahakali Temple in Secunderabad and Balkampet Yellamma Temple in Balkampet on the second Sunday.

On the third Sunday, the festival is celebrated in the old city of Hyderabad — 24 July this year — where Akkanna Madanna Temple in Haribowli, Muthyalamma Temple in Shah Ali Banda, Pochamma and Katta Maisamma Temple of Chilkaguda, and the Simhavahini Mahankali Temple of Lal Darwaza in Hyderabad will host it.

“I visit Pochamma and Darbar Maisamma temple every year,” Amma chimed in.

Devotees wear traditional attire — men wear dhoti and kurta while women wear saree — and pay reverence to goddess Mahakali.

Union Culture and Tourism Minister G. Kishan Reddy on 17 July shared a post on Bonalu celebrations. In one of the photos, the lady beside him can be seen carrying a Bonam.

Paid obeisance to Ammavaru at Ujjaini Mahankali Temple in Secunderabad on the auspicious occasion of Lashkar Bonalu.

Prayed for the well-being of all and prosperity & growth of our state & our country.#Secunderabad #Bonalu pic.twitter.com/1y1qL91Ifx

— G Kishan Reddy (Modi Ka Parivar) (@kishanreddybjp) July 17, 2022

Government preparation

As per the reports, the Telangana Animal Husbandry minister told reporters that the state government has allocated ₹15 crore to be given to the members of various temple committees in preparation for the Bonalu celebrations.

He added that ₹100 crore has also been sanctioned for various development projects close to the temples. This includes road construction, sanitary improvements, drinking water setups, lighting, health clinics, security camera installation near temples and other things.