Bonalu, also known as Ashada Jatara, is one of the biggest festivals in Telangana. The traditional Hindu festival is celebrated annually in Telangana, especially in the cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad, along with several other regions across the state. The festival typically takes place during the month of Ashada, which corresponds to July or August in the Gregorian calendar. The festival of Bonalu is dedicated to the worship of the goddess Mahakali. This year, Bonalu 2024 will be celebrated on Sunday, July 7 and the celebrations will go on for several days. In 2014, the government of Telangana declared Bonalu a state festival. Bonalu Celebrated With Traditional Fervor and Gaiety in Old City of Hyderabad.

On this day, special pujas are performed for Yellamma, one of the many regional forms of Mahakali on the first and last day of the festival. The festival is also considered a thanksgiving to the Goddess for fulfillment of vows. The festival of Bonalu also involves the worship of the Mother Goddess in regional forms like Maisamma, Pochamma, Peddhamma, Dokkalamma, Ankalamma, Poleramma, Maremma, and Nookalamma.

Bonalu Festival 2024 Date

Bonalu Festival  2024 will be celebrated on Sunday, July 7.

Bonalu Festival Legend

The origin of the Bonalu festival is dated back to the 18th century in the erstwhile Hyderabad State. It is linked to the ‘Regimental Bazaar’ and the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad. In the year 1813, a plague broke out in the twin cities, killing thousands of people. Just before this, a military battalion from Hyderabad was deployed to Ujjaini. When this military battalion from Hyderabad got the news about the epidemic in their native land, they became fearful for the lives and safety of their families. The battalion is said to have prayed to Goddess Mahakali to kill the plague. They committed that if the goddess would protect them, they would install an idol of the Goddess Mahakali in the city when they returned home.

As per records, it is said that Goddess Mahakali eliminated the disease. When the battalion returned to their homeland, they built the Ujjaini Mahakali Temple and installed an idol of the goddess, as promised. This was followed by the offering of Bonalu to her, making it a tradition that has been followed by most of the people of Telangana.

Bonalu Celebrations

The word ‘Bonam’ is derived from the word Bhojanam, a Sanskrit word which means ‘a meal’ or ‘a feast’ in Telugu. It is an offering to the Mother Goddess. On this day, women prepare rice cooked with milk and jaggery in a new brass or earthen pot adorned with neem leaves, turmeric, vermilion and a lit lamp on top of the pot. After the preparation, women carry the pots on their heads and make an offering of the Bonam along with turmeric and vermilion, bangles and sari to the Mother Goddess in the temples. Bonalu: Know All About Telugu Thanksgiving Festival Celebrated in Hyderabad & Secunderabad

Every year, devotees offer a Thottelu, a small colourful paper structure supported by sticks, as a mark of respect to the Goddess. Here's wishing everyone a Happy Bonalu 2024!

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 05, 2024 09:27 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).