Ashada Masam Bonalu in Telangana:
Telangana Bonalu: Bonala fair dates have been finalized in Telangana. The Ashadha Bonas will start on June 30 with the Golconda Bonas.
The bonalu festival is celebrated in the Twin Cities of Secunderabad and Hyderabad and other parts of Telangana state Telugu.
Bonalu Hindu Festival where Goddess Mahakali is worshiped. The annual festival is celebrated in the twin cities Secunderabad and Hyderabad and other parts of Telangana state, India.
Bonalu is celebrated usually during Ashada Masam in July/August. The special poojas are performed for goddess Yellamma during the first and last day of the festival. A Festival is considered a form of thanksgiving to the Goddess after the fulfillment of vows. Women’s folk households prepare rice that is cooked along with Milk, Jaggery in a New Earthen or Brass Pot, which is adorned with Neem Leaves, Turmeric, and Vermilion. Their heads and make an offering of Bonam, Women carry these pots including Bangles and Saree to the Mother Goddess at Temples. Bonalu involves worship or various forms such as Mysamma, Pochamma, Yellamma, Dokkalamma, Pedamma, Poleramma, Ankalamma, Maremma, Nookalamma, etc.
Bonalu – 2022 Important Dates:
June 30: Golconda Bonalu
July 17: Lashkar Bonalu
July 18: Lashkar Jathara, Rangam, Bhavishyavani
July 24: Bhagyanagar (Laldarwaja) Bonalu
July 25: Procession of Common Temple Events
July 28: Bonalu Festival Closing Ceremony at Golkonda
Bonalu festival -Origin:
The festival history reportedly started in 1813 in the region of Hyderabad & Secunderabad when a plague disease had broken out in the Twin Cities that had claimed thousands of lives. Hyderabad was then deployed to Ujjain and concerned about the plague menace in Hyderabad the military battalion offered prayers to the Mother Goddess at Mahankaali Temple in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, that if people get relieved the epidemic they would be installing the idol of Mahankaali back in Secunderabad. They believed by devotees that Mahankaali halted the spread of the disease Military Battalion came back here & installed an idol by offering Bonalu Mother Mahankaali.
The Ritual:
Celebrated bonalu across various parts of the city. On the first Sunday of Aashaadam, celebrations begin at Golconda Fort followed by Ujjaini Mahakali Temple in Secunderabad and Balkampet Yellamma temple in Balkampet on the second Sunday, and third Sunday, at the Pochamma and Katta maisamma temple near Chilkalguda and Matheswari temple of Lal Darwaza in the Old City of Hyderabad. Other temples such as Akkanna Madonna temple in Haribowli, and Muthyalamma temple in Shah Ali Banda are the popular venues where Bonalu is celebrated. Lakhs of devotees throng temples to pay obeisance to Mahankaali.
Traditional Women dress up in the Sari along with jewels and others during the occasion. Girls Teenage adorn Half-Sarees along with jewels to reflect the tradition of attire. Some women danced with the balancing pots to the rhythmic beats made by drums in honor of the Goddess.
Women who carry Bonalu are believed to possess the spirit of Mother Goddess, and when approaching the temple, Golconda Festival begins, people sprinkle water on their feet in order to pacify the spirit, believed to be aggressive. Devotees offer Thottelu. The colorful paper structures, are supported by sticks and offered as a token of respect.
Pothuraju:
Pothuraju considered the brother of Mother Goddess, is represented by a bare-bodied and well-built man, who wears a small tightly draped red dhoti and bells near his ankles and applies turmeric on his body, including vermilion. Pothuraju dances to the resounding drums and dances close to Palaharam Band.
A Woman invokes Mahankaali onto herself and performs this custom.
Ghatam:
Ghatam implies a copper pot, which is decorated in the form of a mother goddess and carried by a priest, adorning a traditional dhoti and his body completely smeared in turmeric. The Ghatam is taken as a procession from the first day of the festival to the last day when it is immersed in water. The Ghatam accompanies drums.
Usually, Ghatam of Akkanna Madonna Temple in Haribowli actually leads the procession, placed on elephant turn accompanied by mounted horses and models, which depict Akkanna and Madanna. It ends as a glittering procession in the evening after the immersion of Ghatams at Nayapul. The ghatams popular temples of Mahakali in twin cities congregate here.
