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Bonalu
Bonalu is a Hindu Festival where Goddess Mahakali is worshiped. It is an annual festival celebrated in the twin Cities Hyderabad and Secunderabad and other parts of Telangana state, India.. Celebrated in the month of Ashadam, the month-long festivities take place to thank Goddess Mahakali as women across the state dress in traditional attire and offer Bonam to the goddess. A bonam or meal consists....
Bonalu is a Hindu Festival where Goddess Mahakali is worshiped. It is an annual festival celebrated in the twin Cities Hyderabad and Secunderabad and other parts of Telangana state, India.. Celebrated in the month of Ashadam, the month-long festivities take place to thank Goddess Mahakali as women across the state dress in traditional attire and offer Bonam to the goddess. A bonam or meal consists of cooked rice with jaggery, curd and water which is placed inside an earthen pot. Each of these pots is decorated with flowers and carried by women on their heads to offer to the deity. The origins of the festival date back to the 19th century when a battalion of Hyderabad Military prayed to the goddess to eradicate the plague that had devastated the city. If the goddess did so, the battalion would install an idol of Mahakali in Hyderabad. It is believed that the goddess did eradicate it and the battalion installed the idol. The festival holds great significance and hence In 2014, when the state of Telangana was formed, Bonalu was declared the State Festival. The festivities start from the Golconda Fort as women carrying bonalu walk and reach the temple. Women carrying bonalu are considered to possess the spirit of the goddess, hence as they approach the temple, devotees sprinkle water to pacify the spirit. 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 ankles, and applies turmeric on his body, including vermilion on his forehead. Pothuraju dances to the resounding drums and dances close to Palaharam Bandi, the procession.
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Activities
Preparation of special offering (Bonam) of rice, jaggery, and milk cooked in a new earthen or brass pot.Carrying bonam and offering to goddess.Potharaju leads the procession, dancing to the beat of drums.Rangam, or the Performing the Oracle, is held after the next morning of the actual festival
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Organized By
Department of Language & Culture, Government of Telangana
M.Hari Krishna
Department of Language & Culture, Government of Telangana
8008005231
tsdirectorculture1[at]gmail[dot]com
How to reach
The nearest airport is GMR Rajiv Gandhi International Airport,
which is 35 KMs away.
The nearest convenient railway station is Nampally,
which is 1 KMs away.
The nearest major city is MGBS,
which is 5KMs away.