Information about Mahankali Jatra 2024

Events Finder
Select the Event
OR
Select the State


About Mahankali Jatra

EventMahankali Jatra
LocationHyderabad
StateAndhra Pradesh
CategoryFestival
DateDates not confirmed
Main AttractionThe decorations and the events held in the Ujjaini Mahankali Temple during the festival draw lakhs of devotees.
Overview/History

Mahankali Jatra is also called as Bonalu. In order to honour the goddess of power Kali, the people belonging to Secundrabad and Hyderabad celebrate this festival in Andhra Pradesh. This festival is dedicated to Goddess Adi Shakti so that she wards off the epidemics and evils in and around the surrounding regions.

In 1869, the first Mahankali Jatra began. During this time, a deadly plague broke out in the city, killing many people. People assumed that this disaster plague was because Goddess Shakti was angry and offered her with food to calm her fury down and ward off the evil. Mahankali Jatra's another name Bonalu was derived from Bhojanalu, which means a meal in Telugu language. According to the Hindu calendar, this event goes on for two days in the month of Ashada, which is between July to August.

Every Sunday for the whole month, people celebrate this festival in different parts of the city. People offer their prayers and enjoy as the carnival atmosphere kicks in.

Celebration

In Goddess Adi Shakti's temple, the Mahankali Jatra is celebrated from early in the morning. The temples are decorated with flowers and various colourful lights for the event. During the dawn, hundreds and thousands of women dressed in beautiful colourful saris carry earthen pots, called Bonalu and has cooked rice, curd, water and jaggery which is offered to the Goddess. The procession of Bonalu which begins from the temple involves several people and is very colourful. A well-built man, draped himself in red coloured dhoti is called as 'Potharaju', and many other men dance on the songs sung or tunes in respect of Mother Goddess.

This festival is not restricted for any one. Tourists from India and around the world can know more about the place, its traditions, the processions and various rituals performed by the devotees. The festival has huge colourful processions. Bonalu is then offered by the devotees to the deity.

On the festival's first and last day, different types of poojas are also performed for Yellamma. This festival can also be considered as thanking the Goddess because it is fulfilled all your vows. Women participating in the festival cook rice with sugar, milk, and have onions in the earthen pot sometimes. It is dressed later with turmeric and small neem branches, Kadi (white chalk), vermilion (kunkum) and a lamp kept on the top. Women walk to the temple with pots on their head, which is also led by dancing men and lively drummers.

The temple of goddess has various unique names such as Pochamma, Mysamma, Yellamma, Dokkalamma, Pedamma, Ankalamma, Poleramma, Pochamme, Maremma, Yellammma, Maramma, Nookalamma etc. These temples are also decorated with small lights, illumination, festoons and joy.

It is believed that the women carrying Bonalu can possess the spirit of Mother Goddess. Their feet are later washed pacifying the spirit before entering the temple. Every devotee group offers one small colourful paper structure, which is supported by sticks, and is also known as Thottela in order to mark respect. The Goddess is believed to visit her maternal home during this month. This is the reason why people offer food and show love and affection towards her.





Last Updated on : January 03, 2024

     


     



EU GDPR Update:
MapsofIndia has updated its Terms and Privacy Policy to give Users more transparency into the data this Website collects, how it is processed and the controls Users have on their personal data. Users are requested to review the revised Privacy Policy before using the website services, as any further use of the website will be considered as User's consent to MapsofIndia Privacy Policy and Terms.

We follow editorialcalls.org for border and boundary demarcations