Telangana's Bonalu Festival

Context

Bonalu festival, which symbolises the unique culture of Telangana, began recently. This month-long festival, deeply rooted in the socio-religious fabric of the region, is a significant marker of Telangana’s identity.

What is the Bonalu Festival?

Bonalu is a traditional Hindu festival celebrated in Telangana, especially in Hyderabad, Secunderabad, and surrounding regions. It is dedicated to Goddess Mahankali and is marked by colorful rituals, vibrant processions, and community feasting.
Key Features:
- It is celebrated during the Ashada month (June–July), considered inauspicious for ceremonies but sacred for goddess worship.
- Offerings: Women prepare and carry decorated pots called "Bonam", filled with cooked rice, jaggery, curd, and neem leaves, as offerings to the goddess.
- Significance: Believed to have originated over 150 years ago after a cholera epidemic, as a way to appease the goddess for protection.
- Main Locations:
  - Starts at Golconda Fort (Golconda Bonalu)
  - Followed by Lashkar Bonalu in Secunderabad
  - Culminates at Lal Darwaza and Haribowli in the Old City
- Cultural Elements: Includes processions, Pothurajus (guardians of the goddess), drummers, and devotees dressed in traditional attire.
- Government Support: In 2025, the Telangana government allocated ?20 crore to support the celebrations.

Cultural and Religious Significance:

Bonalu showcases the regional identity and devotional culture of Telangana. It reflects the community’s collective memory of overcoming epidemics through faith, tradition, and collective ritual.
It's also a powerful example of how folk traditions blend with state support in modern Indian religious festivals.