Bonalu is a Hindu festival for the Goddess of power, Mahakali or Kali, celebrated in Hyderabad, Secunderabad and parts of Telangana and Rayalaseema in India.It is celebrated in the month of Ashada masam, in July/August.
Special poojas are performed for Yellamma on the first and last day of the festival. The festival is also considered a thanksgiving to the Goddess for fulfillment of vows.
Bonam means Bojanaalu or a meal in Telugu, is an offering to the Goddess. Women bring cooked rice with milk, sugar sometimes onions in a brass or earthen pot, adorned with small neem branches and turmeric, vermilion (kunkum) or Kadi (white chalk) and a lamp on the top. Women place the pots on their heads and take it to Goddess temple, led by drummers and dancing men.
Goddess temples have names such as Mysamma, Pochamma, Yellamma, Pedamma, Dokkalamma, Ankalamma, Poleramma, Maremma, Pochamme, Maramma, Yellammma etc. and are decorated with special illumination buntings and festoons.
Downlaod Free Bonalu Festival and Folk Songs
Pedda Puli
Mayadhari Maisammo
Kodibaye Lachamma
Gal Gal Sappulla
Kallu Taagi Kallu Taagi
Maradhala Naa Muddhula Maradhala
Nalla Nallani Dhana
O vadhine
Dhagudu Muthaladuthavu
Balamani Balamani
Bonalu festival begins with the Golconda Mahankali, located inside the Golconda fort, and follows with Secunderabad’s Ujjaini Mahakali Temple also called as Lashkar Bonalu, Balkampet Yellamma temple and then to the old city. On the festival day, women wear silk sarees and jewellery. Some tranced women dance with balancing pots (Bonam), to the rhythmic beats of drums in honour of the local Goddess.
The festival starts at Golconda
Women carrying Bonalu are believed to possess the spirit of Mother Goddess, and when they go towards the temple, people pour water on their feet to pacify the spirit, who, by nature, is believed to be aggressive. Every group of devotees offer a Thottela (a small colorful, paper structure supported by sticks), as a mark of respect.
It is believed that the Goddess comes back to her maternal home during Ashada Maasam, so people come to see her and bring offerings of food to show their love and affection, just as they would prepare a special meal when their own daughters visit them.
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