Bonalu Festival

The most important traditional Hindu festival is Bonalu, a contraction of the word Bhojanam, which means a meal or a feast in Telugu. It is held during the month of Ashada Masam which falls in July-August.

Every year the festival is celebrated in the twin city of Hyderabad and Secunderabad and other parts of the state. The festival is celebrated on the Goddess Mahakali. It is an offering to the Mother Goddess.

The festival is also considered a thanksgiving to the Goddess for the fulfillment of vows. Special Pujas are performed for Yellamma (regional forms of Mahakali) on the 1st and last day of the festival.

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 the top of the pot.

Women carry the pots on their heads and make an offering of Bonam along with turmeric vermilion, saree, and bangles to the mother Goddess across the temple.