Bonalu is a Hindu festival that usually occurs in July and August. It showcases Telangana's rich culture as people soak in the traditional festivities by singing Bonalu songs. Goddess Mahakali is worshipped for this festival, and special poojas are performed during the festival days. This fantastic festival is considered a way of thanking the Goddess for her blessings.

In Telugu, Bonam means Meal, one of the offerings given to the Goddess. Every year, devotees worship and honour the Goddess with dance and rituals. The government of Telangana has declared this beautiful festival a state festival. The Bonalu 2025 festival will begin on June 29th and end on July 20th, 2025.

About Bonalu

The festival began in 1813 in Secunderabad and Hyderabad when an epidemic broke out, and the plague claimed the lives of thousands of people. From Hyderabad, a military battalion was deployed to Ujjain, and they offered prayers to the Mother Goddess at Mahankaali temple concerning the plague menace.

They prayed for relief from the epidemic, and if people were saved, they would install an idol of the mother goddess in Secunderabad. The devotees believed that the Goddess halted the spread of the plague, and the Military Battalion returned to Secunderabad and installed the idol as they promised by offering Bonalu to Mahanakaali.

Rituals for the Bonalu Celebrations

The devotees dress up in their traditional attires, and women wear jewelry and other accessories for the celebration. During the celebration, people dance to their traditional music and sing prayers. The festival starts at Golconda. People believe that the divine spirit of Mother Goddess possesses women who carry Bonalu. People sprinkle water on the feet of these women when they reach the temple to soothe the heart, which is sometimes believed to be very aggressive. They offer Thottilu, which are small and colorful structures made from paper, supported by sticks, and these are presented to the Goddess as a token of respect.

Families also share offerings at the temples and with their relatives and friends. They come together to celebrate this grand occasion.

Rangam

The performing of the Oracle, or the Rangam, is held the day after the festival. A woman performs this custom who invokes the Goddess Mahankaali onto herself. This woman foretells the future when the devotees ask for information.

Pothuraju

He is considered to be the brother of Mahanakaali, and Pothuraja is represented by a well-built and bare-bodied man who wears bells around the ankles and a tightly draped red dhoti. He applies vermilion on his forehead and turmeric all over his body. He dances close to the Palaharam Bandi, the procession, to the resounding drums.

Ghatam

This is a copper pot carried by the priest and decorated in the form of Mahankaali. The priest would smear his body in turmeric, adorning a traditional dhoti. The pot is taken as a procession till the final day of the festival. Drums accompany the procession.

Meat Offering

After the ritual and the first procession, there is also a sacrifice ritual or Bali. Goat or chicken is sacrificed for this, and a grand meal is prepared using this meat.

Places where the Bonalu festival is celebrated

Bonalu is celebrated in various parts of the state and is marked by many people. The celebrations begin at the Golconda Fort during the first Sunday of Aashaadam, followed by Balkampet's Yellamma temple on the second Sunday. On the third Sunday, the celebrations occur at the Katta Maisamma, Pochamma, and Matheswari temples near Chilkalguda and the Old city of Hyderabad.

Haribowli (Akkanna Madanna temple) and Shah Ali Banda (in Muthyalamma temple) are other popular venues for the celebrations. Thousands of devotees come to the temples to pray to the Mother Goddess.

To reach the Golconda fort, you can book a bus online on redBus and get down at the Golconda Bus Station. On the second Sunday, you can reach the Yellamma temple by getting down at the Balakampet bus stop, which is only a few meters away.

On the third Sunday, you can celebrate at the Katta Maisamma temple, Pochamma, and Matheswari temples. The nearest bus stop to the Katta Maisamma temple is the Mini Tankbund, and you can book your bus using redBus. The Chilkalguda Municipal Complex is the nearest bus stop to the Pochamma temple, and the Charminar Bus station is the nearest bus stop to the Matheswari temple.

All these temples can be easily accessed by simply logging onto the website! In addition, there are many other little temples in Hyderabad and Secunderabad where you can go to celebrate the Bonalu festival with your family and friends.

Bonalu festival is one of the biggest festivals celebrated in Hyderabad and Secunderabad! So you can enthusiastically celebrate Bonalu 2025 with redBus!