Bonalu

Bonalu is a Hindu festival celebrated primarily in Telangana, especially in Hyderabad and Secunderabad, during the annual monsoon season. The festival usually takes place in the Ashadha month (July–August in the Gregorian calendar) and centers on offerings to the goddess Mahakali (also worshipped as Kali or Akkamma) in gratitude for protection and sustenance of the community.

Origins and meaning: The term bonam or bonalu refers to the ceremonial pots offered to the goddess. Traditional accounts tie the practice to times of illness and scarcity, when women offered cooked rice and other food in decorated pots to seek the goddess’s blessings. The ritual has become a distinctive cultural expression of Telangana identity, particularly in urban neighborhoods and temple towns.

Rituals and practice: The hallmark of Bonalu is the procession of women carrying pots on their heads, known as bonam. These pots are ornamented with turmeric, vermilion, mango leaves, and flowers, and they contain a lit lamp and offerings such as cooked rice, jaggery, and legumes. The processions are accompanied by songs and drumming, creating a vibrant devotional atmosphere. In many areas, a male attendant called Pothuraju accompanies the women, acting as the protector of the goddess. The bonam is offered at temples, with special pujas and community feasts forming part of the celebrations.

Significance and spread: Bonalu is a major cultural and religious event in Telangana, highlighting devotion to Mahakali and communal solidarity. In recent decades, the festival has gained wider visibility, with elaborate temple ceremonies, public processions, and media coverage, reinforcing regional cultural heritage.