Hyderabad Gears Up for Colourful Bonalu Festivities from July 16
Hyderabad: The stage is set for the start of the colorful Ashadam Bonalu festival in the twin cities from July 16 to August 10.
The celebrations will begin on July 16 at the Sri Jagadamba Mahankali temple atop the historic Golconda fort. The main festival will be held on August 2 and 3 at the Sri Ujjaini Mahankali temple in Secunderabad and will culminate on August 10 at the Sri Simhavahini Mahankali temple in Lal Darwaza and the Sri Akkanna Madanna temple in Haribowli, with processions from the temples to the nearby Musi River. Afzalgunj.
The state government has made detailed arrangements in coordination with all departments to hold the festival, which symbolizes the spiritual and cultural heritage of Telangana, with great pomp and dedication.
The government has released Rs.15.05 crore for 3,427 temples within the erstwhile GHMC district limits for the Bonalu festival.
During Bonalu, the State government will traditionally offer silk clothes at around 30 major temples in the city, including Golconda Sri Jagadamba Mahankali temple, Chiilkalaguda Sri Ujjaini Mahankali temple and Katta Maisamma-Pochamma, Haribowli Akkanna-Madanna temple, Karwan Darbar Maisamma, Lal Darwaza Sri Simhavahini Mahankali, Charminar Sri Bhagyalakshmi. Ammavari temple and Mir Alam Mandi Sri Mahankali temple.
Ministers and officials will attend these refreshments. Women wearing pattu saris will serve ‘bonam’, which consists of cooked rice garnished with jaggery in a pot garnished with vermillion and turmeric combined with neem leaves.
During the evening celebrations, a ‘phalaharam bandi’ procession will be held by local youths, where ‘potharajus’ smeared with turmeric and vermilion paste will dance to the pulsing beats of teem maar at the front.
The Rangam ritual, one of the most distinctive rituals of the Bonalu festival, will be performed the next day. Traditionally held in the morning after the main celebrations, this ceremony is considered a ceremonial oracle in which devotees seek divine guidance and blessings from Goddess Mahankali.
Standing on a wet clay pot in the temple, the oracle lady performed the divination ritual regarding the future of the State. Endowments Minister Konda Surekh and Backward Classes Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar, who is also Hyderabad’s in-charge minister, have already reviewed the arrangements to be made for the smooth conduct of the festival.
During the review meeting, Prabhakar said Bonalu is a symbol of Telangana culture and traditions and urged devotees to follow the instructions of police and government departments to ensure peaceful celebrations.
He emphasized that the aim of the state government is to provide a safe and comfortable darshan experience to every devotee. The minister instructed officials to be careful based on past experience so that devotees participating in the Bonalu festival do not face any difficulties.
timeline
July 16: Bonalu celebrations will begin at Sri Jagadamba Mahankali Temple in Golconda
20, 21 and 22 July: Balkampet Yellamma Kalyanotsavam celebrations:
2 August: Bonalu at Sri Ujjaini Mahankali Temple in Secunderabad.
3 August: Rangam ceremony.
9 August: Bonalu at Sri Simhavahini Ammavari Temple in Lal Darwaza
