Hyderabad, July 24: Bonalu, the traditional folk festival of Telangana, was celebrated with traditional fervour and gaiety in Hyderabad on Sunday. Thousands of devotees thronged the temples in various parts of the city to offer prayers and participate in various rituals. Men, women and children were seen queuing up at the temples in the old city and other parts of Hyderabad in early morning to offer ‘bonum’. Large gatherings were seen at Sri Simhavahini Mahankali temple in Lal Darwaza, Sri Akkanna Madanna Mahakali temple in Haribowli and other Mahankali temples in areas like Mir Alam Mandi, Gowlipura, Charminar, Karwan and Amberpet.
The women devotees offered ‘Bonam’, containing cooked rice, jaggery, curd and neem leaves to goddess Mahankali. Endowment Minister Indrakaran Reddy and animal husbandry minister T. Srinivas Yadav offered ‘Bangaru Bonam’ and silk robes to the deity on behalf of the state government.
The ministers said they offered prayers for the well-being and prosperity of the people of Telangana. Indrakaran Reddy said the annual festival symbolized the unique culture of Telangana. He said ever since the Telangana state was formed, the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) government has been making large-scale arrangements for the festival.
State Home minister Mahmood Ali also participated in the Bonalu celebrations. He said the festival reflects the unique ‘Ganga Jamuni tehzeeb’ of Telangana.
Badminton star P.V. Sindhu also participated in the festivities at Lal Darwaza temple.
She offered ‘bonum’ to the deity in a traditional manner. Sindhu told reporters that she is feeling happy to participate in the celebrations this year as last year she missed the festival due to a tournament abroad.YSR Telangana Party (YSRTP) leader Y. S. Sharmila also participated in the celebrations and offered the ‘bonum’.
Police have made elaborate arrangements for the peaceful and smooth conduct of the festivities, which will continue till Sunday night.
The festival will conclude on Monday with the famous ‘Rangam’ where predictions about the state’s future will be made by an unmarried woman, followed by the Ghatam procession.
This will be followed by a procession of a caparisoned elephant carrying a portrait of the deity. Smeared with turmeric and vermilion, potharajus dance to rhythmic drum beats in the procession that will pass through various areas including Charminar.
Ashada Bonalu is a festival held in the month of Ashada, according to the Hindu calendar, celebrating the goddess Mahankali. Devotees, especially women make offerings in the form of food to goddess Mahankali in specially decorated pots.
During the festival, people also hold ‘rangam’ or forecasting the future, organise processions and cultural events.
