Bonalu is one of the folk festival popular in the Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh. The word "Bonalu" is the short form of "Bhojanalu", meaning "food", which is offered to the Goddess. The Godesses are worshipped by offering food, which is later shared among the family members.
Devotional singing and ceremonial worship to the village deities "Yellamma", "Mahankali", "Maisamma", "Pochamma", and "Gundamma" are the characteristic features of this one-month long festival. The cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad celebrate Bonalu festival with lot of splendor and gaiety. . Devotees throng Sree Jagadambika temple located at the top of Golconda Fort during the festival.
An interesting thing about Bonalu is that women folk participate in the procession carrying 'Ghatams' or ornamented pots filled with flowers on their heads. The women devotees also carry brass vessels or clay pots filled with cooked rice and decorated with neem leaves. In the procession men accompany the women devotees by playing drums and go to worship the local deity. Dressed in colorful dresses they balance the pots to the rhythmic songs and tunes, sung in glorifying the village deity Mahankali. The male dancers are known as Potharajus, who lead the procession by lashing whips and neem leaves.
Last Updated on 19 May 2011
