Welcome to Hyderabad Bonalu Festival observed in Hyderabad and Secunderabad in India is dedicated to Mother Goddess (Shakti) and is observed in month of Ashada (July – August). It must be noted that on the Sundays in Ashada month (June – July) temples in Telengana. Thus there is a Bonalu Jatra 2012 dates are July 14, July 21, July 28 and August 4. Bonalu 2013 date at the Ujjaini Mahankali Temple is July 28 and the Rangam is on July 29. Bonalu means ‘food’ and women in large numbers offer food to Mahankali. Bonalu Jatara is a month long affair and includes colorful processions and community feasts. Bonalu is mainly held at the Sri Jagadamba temple in Golconda Fort, Ujjain Mahankali Temple in Secunderabad and Matheswari Temple of Laldarwaja. The rituals are also performed in all the other Goddess Shakti in the twin cities. In the region, Goddess Shakti is worshipped as Mahakali or Mahankali. In the region, Goddess Shakti or Kali is popularly known as Yellamma, Pochamma, Renuka Amma, Peddamma, Mysamma, Poleramma, Ankalamma and Maramma. The origin of the festival is traced to a major plague that killed thousands of people in 1869. People believed the plague was the result of the anger of the Goddess and started offering Bonalu to subdue her anger. The word ‘Bonalu’ is derived from the Telugu word ‘Bhojanalu’, the food offered. The offerings consist of cooked rice, jaggery, curd, water (known as Bonam) and other dishes which are brought in the pots and are given to the Goddesses in the temples. It is believed that the offerings ward off evils and epidemics during monsoon. The Bonalu procession is highly colorful and is accompanied thousands of people and includes Potharaju (a well built man) and people also depict various scenes from Puranas especially those associated with the Goddess Kali legend.
Posted on: Thu, 18 Jul 2013 03:51:24 +0000
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