Bonalu festival kicks off at Golconda Fort

Golconda: The month-long 'Bonalu' festival kicked off on Thursday in the city at the historical Golconda fort. Bonalu, the festival comes in Aashadam in the first month of rainy season to appease Goddess Mahakali.

Thursday marked the formal start of Bonalu at Golkonda Fort. It is conducted in all other major temples like Ujjaini Mahakali temple in Secunderabad and Jubilee Hills Peddamma temple. Telangana Minister of Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Talasani Srinivas Yadav said, "Thousands of people started coming to Golkonda for the festival.

I request organizers to take the support from every department and conduct the event without any inconvenience to the people." He further added, "Everyone should participate irrespective of political parties, caste and religion and tell the importance of the festival to the whole nation."

The 'palaharam' procession started from Langar Houz with 'ghatams' proceeded to the Golconda temple for thanksgiving rituals to Goddess Kali. About 2,000 devotees participated in the Bonalu festivities. There was no entry fee at the Golconda Fort. Some 450 police personnel were deployed on special duty at Golconda Fort. Bonalu is a women-oriented festival, stressing the importance of shakti.

Women carry earthen pots containing rice cooked with jaggery, milk and also offer kumkum, sarees and bangles to the 'Ammavaru'. Ammavaru is worshiped in different forms like Pedamma, Mysamma, Mahankali and Yellama. Songs like Lashkar Bonalu, Bangaru Maisamma, Dhumu Dhuma and Gali Gali Tirugu sung to appease Goddess Kali rent the air. "Water supply, power facility and barricading were provided for devotees by the GHMC," said Chandrashekar, SHO at Golconda.

Tourists from other states and countries participated in Bonalu with great enthusiasm. The fort was decorated colorfully with lights, flowers and fruits presenting richness of the culture. Devotees reached temple with presentations for deity by dancing to the folk beats of Telangana, while 'Pothurajus' danced all the way. Bonalu will be followed by Ujjaini Mahankali Bonalu on July 21 and these celebrations will be followed by Old City Bonalu on July 28.