Bonalu, a contraction of the Sanskrit word ''Bhojanam'' or ''Bojan'', is an annual Hindu Festival quite popular in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad and, other parts of Telangana state, South India. Celebrated during Ashada Masam that falls in July/August this festival is dedicated to Mahakali who is being worshipped, particularly by women folks. It involves worship of Kali in her various forms such Ankalamma, Maremma, Pochamma, Yellamma, Pedamma etc. The highlight of this festive event is conducting special poojas for goddess Yellamma during the first and last day of the festival. Offering of naivaidhyam - food (Bonam in Telugu means meal) is a sacred ritual and this event is symbolic of expressing gratitude to the goddess after fulfilment of vows taken before.
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| Bonalu'' a Hindu festival of Telangana state, India, soundcloud.com |
Above image: A woman carrying cooked food in a decorated pot with neem leaves to be offered to the goddess Mahakali at the temple.
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| A woman carrying Bonam, Telangana. .nativeplanet.com |
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| Women carrying Bonam (cooked meal) to the temple.andhrawishesh.com/ |
A special meal is cooked at home by women after observing certain religious norms such as taking bath in the early mooring, wearing clean dress and offering prayer, etc., before cooking. Taking non-vegetarian during this period is a taboo. This is also true of menfolk. Likewise women experiencing ''Period'' are not allowed to participate in the function. Nor are they allowed to get into the temple.
The special meal meant for the goddess is cooked in a new earthen or brass pot which is decorated with neem leaves (neem leaves have medicinal properties and the neem tree is often associated with Paraskthi), turmeric and vermilion, Once Bonam is prepared by mixing rice along with milk and jaggery (country sugar) it is time for the women to head toward the temple. Normally, they carry the pot with cooked food on their head to the temple and reverentially make the offering to the deity along with bangles and sarees. The tradition has it offering should be made with bangles and sarees, preferably yellow in color. Devotees also offer Thottelu - made of color papers.
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| Brass idol of Mahakali. .amazon.in |
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| Young girls carrying Bonam en.etemaaddaily.com/ |
As to the origin of this festival, it all began when this region was in the grip of Cholera (gattara in Telugu). When the soldiers in the military went to Ujjaini, Madhya Pradesh on duty from here, they prayed at the Ujjaini Mahakali temple to save the people of Hyderabad and Secundeabad from the dangerous disease. Their prayer got a positive result and upon their return, the soldiers led by one Appaiah had a wooden idol of Ujjaini Mahakali installed in Secundrabad. This annual festival began during that period to convey the gratitude of the people to the goddess for having saved tens of thousands of people from the epidemic in the past and for her continuous protection.
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| Women carrying Bonalu (food), Telangana. timescontent.com |
There are many Mahakali temples in both cities and devotees throng the temples on that day by carrying the Bonam on the head and wearing traditional dress. Normally during the first Sunday of Aashaadam, celebrations begin at Golconda Fort followed by Ujjaini Mahakali Temple in Secunderabad and Balkampet. During the procession, many women will go into a trance - a sort of hypnotic state as if they were possessed by spirits and the crowds will pour water on them and on their feet to pacify them. Pothuraju dances to the beat of drums are common in some place. Pothuraju is supposedly the brother of Kali who is bare bodied and well-built wearing red-colored dhoti.
Yet another feature is priests carrying ghatam (pot) from the first day of the festival to the last day. It is made of copper decorated with the image of the goddess. Smearing turmeric paste all over his body, the priest will carry the ghatam with devotion. On the final day it will be immersed in the water body.
https://www.telanganatourism.gov.in/partials/about/festivals-of-telangana/bonalu.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonalu
