December 17, 2011
Bonalu is a Hindu festival dedicated to Mahakali, Goddess of
Power. The festival is mostly celebrated in some parts of Andhra Pradesh like
Hyderabad, Secunderabad, Rayalaseema etc. The festival comes in the month of
Ashadh (July- August). The festival is also regarded as event of thanksgiving
to the Goddess for fulfilling wishes. On the occasion of the festival a meal,
called as Bonam, is offered to the Goddess. Bonam contains cooked rice with
milk, sugar kept in a brass or earthen pot which also contains neem branches,
vermilion, turmeric, Kadi (white Chalk). Women with these pots containing Bonam
are seen going to the temple of goddess to offer the meal. They are accompanied
by drummers and men dancing to the tune of drums.
The festival usually starts with Mahakali temple situated at
the fort of Golkonda. On the occasion of the festival women adorn themselves
with jewelry and silk saris. Some women spellbound by the devotional environ
are seen dancing to the rhythm of the drums which is played in honor of the
Goddess. Palaharam Bandi (the procession) in honor of the goddess is taken out
to local temple of the goddess. Potharaju, the brother of Goddess, is
represented in the procession by a local man wearing small draped dhoti, bells
on his ankles, and turmeric and vermilion on his body and forehead. He is seen
leading the procession and dancing to the beats of the drum.
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