Bonalu Festival Celebrated In Telangana

Bonalu Festival Celebrated In Telangana

Bonalu festival is celebrated in the southern Indian state of Telangana in July 2022. Bonalu or Mahakali

Bonalu is a Hindu festival in which Goddess Mahakali is worshipped. This festival is celebrated annually especially in the city of Hyderabad, Secunderabad and other adjoining areas of Telangana.

According to the Hindu calendar, this festival is celebrated in the month of Ashadh, which falls between the months of July and August according to the English calendar. Yellamma or Mahakali is

worshiped during this festival. This festival is celebrated as a thanks giving in return for the grace of the Goddess.

The word bonam, from which the word bonalu is derived, is actually an Apabhramsa of the Sanskrit

word Bhojanam which in Telugu language means offering to the mother.

This Bonam is generally made by women by mixing rice milk and jaggery in a terracotta pot. Neem leaves, turmeric, vermilion and a burning ‘deepak’ are placed on this pot. Women keep this pot on their heads and offer this bonam to Maa Kali in temples. Along with Bonam, other items of makeup like vermilion, bangles and saris are also offered to Maa Kali.

This is a special festival celebrated in the rainy season. During this time many diseases arise in thebhuman body. A traumatic event isnassociated with the beginning of this festival, it is believed that it 1813 there was a large outbreak of cholera in Hyderabad and Secunderabad, the twin states of India, which caused many deaths.

It is said that to avoid the situation, the army of the city had worshiped in the temple of Mahakali in Ujjain

city of Madhya Pradesh and made a vow that if the problem of disease is completely averted then they

would establish an idol of Maa Kali in the city.

It is believed that after the worship, gradually the infection of cholera from the city started to end. After which the soldiers of the army had installed the idol of Maa Kali here. Since then, this festival is celebrated continuously every year in Ashadh month.