Hyderabad: Even as the deep wound caused by the Coronavirus pandemic yet to heal, the historic city of Hyderabad is all set to celebrate its annual festival of ‘Bonalu,’ a thanksgiving ritual to the Goddess Mahakali for fulfilling devotees’ vows.
Prayers, devotion, animal sacrifices to the deity, ‘Potharaju’ processions, oracle’s predictions and ‘teen-maar’ beats and dances will mark the traditional festivities at the Golkonda Fort on Sunday, followed by other parts of the city in the coming Sundays till the end of the month of ‘Ashadam’
The state government officially takes part in this festival. All arrangements have been looked after by the government officials of water works, electricity department, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) and the police.
Sarvesh, the chief priest of Jagadambika Yellamma Thalli temple at Golkonda, explained the historic significance of the temple. “From the time of Kakatiya period, the deity has been offered with ‘Bonam’ at the temple which is on the top of the Golkonda Fort. Those who are unable to climb the steps to reach the temple, offer ‘Bonam’ at Yellamma Putta. Which is at the entrance of the fort,” he said.
Madhavi Poretti, a resident of Golkonda, said, “I am very excited for this years ‘Bonalu’ as we missed the festival last year because of the pandemic situation. After visiting the temple and performing regular rituals, our relatives in other parts of the city will visit us, and the feast will go on till late at night.”
The main ‘Bonalu’ will be celebrated on August 1 at Simhavahini Sri Mahankali Devalayam, Lal Darwaza. The temple holds celebrations for eleven days, starting from July 23. K. Venkatesh, chairman of the temple committee, said, “All the preparations including painting of the temple, decorative lights works and patch works on roads are going on. This year, we have an additional arrangement of sanitisation of the temple and its surroundings. Marking for queues to maintain social distancing is also being done. The GHMC authorities are supervising the works.”
