Bonalu is the annual festival of Telengana. It is celebrated in the month of Ashada, in July - August. The festival involves the worship of Mother Goddess in regional forms - Mysamma, Yellamma, Pochamma, Pedamma, Dokkalamma, Ankalamma, Poleramma, Maramma, Nookalamma. Special poojas are performed for the Goddess on the first and last days of the festival. It is also a festival of thanksgiving to the Goddess for the fulfillment of wishes.
On the festival day, women dressed up in silk sarees and jewellery walk to the temple carrying a pot (Bonam) of specially prepared food, an offering to the goddess, balanced on their heads, accompanied by the rhythmic beating of the drums.
Women carrying Bonalu are believed to be possesed by the spirit of Mother Goddess. On their walk towards the temple, people pour water on their feet to pacify the the aggressive spirit of the Goddess. A bare bodied man smeared with turmuric, wearing anklets and a lemon in his mouth, wearing red dhoti and neem leaves accompanies the women carrying pots, who dances to the rhythm of the drum beats. He is called Potharaju. He is supposed to be the brother of Mother Goddess. He is the initiator of the festivities and the protector of the women who are in a trance. He lashes a whip and dances to the beat of drums. Every group of devotees also offer a Thottelu (a tower shaped structure made of colorful paper and sticks), as a mark of respect.
The festival Bonalu is celebrated as the homecoming of the Goddess. So the devotees prepare special meals and offer it to her amidst great festivities to show their love and affection, just as they would do when their own daughters visit them annually.
There is another story associated with the origin of Bonalu, related to the army. In 1813, when the Hyderabad Military Battalion was deployed in Ujjain, a plague broke out in the Twin Cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad, in which thousands perished. The soldiers prayed for the eradication of the plague in the Mahakaali Temple in Ujjain. They offered to install her idol in their city when they returned. The plague was eradicated and the soldiers installed the idol of the Goddess in the city and offered food (Bonalu), as thanksgiving. This tradition is followed to date.
The festival kick starts on the first sunday of the month of Ashada, in the Mahankali Temple located inside Golconda Fort. Next sunday at Ujjaini Mahakali Temple (known as Lashker Bonalu), Balkampet Yellamma Temple. Then at Sri Simhavahini Mahankali Temple and Sri Akkanna and Madanna Mahankali Temple in the old city of Hyderabad.
On the monday following the Bonalu festivities, an oracle foretells the future. The oracle is an unmarried lady. This is known as Rangam, after which the procession starts with the Ghatam.
The home-coming of the goddess is in the form of Ghatam, which is a copper pot decorated in the form of the Goddess. After Rangam is the procession, Bonalu Jatara, with the Ghatam carried by the priest. A decorated picture of the Goddess is carried in the procession on an elephant through different lanes of Secunderabad. This is known as saganampu. Festivities end with the immersion of the Ghatam.
A feast follows the festival.
No comments:
Post a Comment