The month-long Bonalu festival begins in a grand style at Golconda in Telangana. Marking the beginning of the celebrations, the Bonalu procession was started from Jagadamba Mahankali temple at Golkonda, last Sunday. The temple’s chief priest joined the gathering from his house carrying Goddess Khali’s idol. The highlights of the celebrations are potharajus dancing with a whip in hand during the procession. The ‘Ghatam’ procession started from Langer Houz. Several women participated in the procession carrying decorated pots containing jaggery and rice on their heads.

Bonalu - Telangana State Festival

The unique Telangana state festival is full of customs and traditions and is celebrated amid locals and tourists. Telangana State government, which has declared Bonalu as State festival, announced earlier that the government will bear the expenditure of the festivities.

The state government has taken a decision to allow the elephant from Nehru Zoological Park, named Rajini, to participate in the traditional procession organized as a part of the Bonalu festivities in the city.

Bonalu - Month-long Event

Bonalu festival that began as a grand event in Golkonda will be followed by Bonalu at Ujjaini Mahakali Temple in Secunderabad and Balkampet Yellamma temple in Balkampet in second Sunday, at the pochamma and katta maisamma temple of Chilkalguda and the Matheswari temple of Lal Darwaza in Old City of Hyderabad in third Sunday. Among other temples where Bonalu swill celebrated are Muthyalamma temple in Shah Ali Banda and Akkanna Madanna temple in Haribowli.

-Sumana