Latest news with #Ashadam
Hans India
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Hans India
Telangana's Bonalu festival begins amid fanfare
Hyderabad: Bonalu festival, which symbolises the unique culture of Telangana, began on Thursday amid fanfare with devotees offering the first Bonam to goddess Jagadambika at historic Golconda Fort here. The month-long festivities kicked off with the traditional rituals performed by a group of priests. A procession was taken from Langar House to Jagdamba temple at the Golconda fort. A large number of women with pots on their heads, 'Potharajus' and devotees participated in the event. The women devotees offered 'Bonam', containing cooked rice, jaggery, curd and neem leaves to the goddess. Endowment Minister Konda Surekha presented silk robes to the goddess on behalf of the state government. Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar, Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar, Greater Hyderabad Mayor Gadwal Vijayalaxmi and others were present. Congress MLC and veteran actress Vijayashanti and Telangana Jagruthi president, and BRS MLC K. Kavitha participated in the celebrations. BJP MP Eatala Rajender and leaders of various political parties participated. Golconda Bonalu ushers in the 'Ashadam' month, during which the festival is celebrated at various places in Hyderabad, Secunderabad and other parts of Telangana. The celebrations are organised every Sunday and Thursday. Every year, the festival is held in Hyderabad in three phases. Golconda Bonalu will be followed by Lashkar Bonalu, which is held at Ujjaini Mahankali temple in Secunderabad. The festivities will conclude at Sri Simhavahini Mahankali temple in Lal Darwaza and Sri Akkanna Madanna Mahankali temple in Haribowli in the old city of Hyderabad. Devotees, especially women, make offerings in the form of food to the goddess in specially decorated pots. It is commonly believed that the festival was first celebrated over 150 years ago following a major cholera outbreak. People believed that the epidemic was due to the anger of Mahankali and began offering Bonalu to placate her. This year, the state government has released Rs 20 crore for celebrating Bonalu. The Endowment Department distributed cheques to temple committees.
Hans India
01-05-2025
- General
- Hans India
Hyderabad Bonalu 2025 Schedule Released by Endowments Dept
Telangana's culturally significant Bonalu festival is set to begin this year on June 26, with the state Endowments Department releasing a detailed schedule of events at key temples in Hyderabad and Secunderabad. Bonalu celebrations at Sri Jagadambika Ammavari Temple, located within the historic Golconda Fort, will kick off the month-long festivities. The inaugural offering, known as the golden bonam, will be presented to the deity on June 26 (Thursday), marking the official start of the Ashada month rituals. Each Sunday and Thursday throughout the Ashada month will witness traditional pujas offered to the deity, continuing the age-old ritual. A total of nine bonams will be offered during this period, each observed on specific dates: - 1st Bonam: June 26 (Thursday) - 2nd Bonam: June 29 (Sunday) - 3rd Bonam: July 3 (Thursday) - 4th Bonam: July 6 (Sunday) - 5th Bonam: July 10 (Thursday) - 6th Bonam: July 13 (Sunday) - 7th Bonam: July 17 (Thursday) - 8th Bonam: July 20 (Sunday) - 9th Bonam: July 24 (Thursday) Bonalu at Ujjaini Mahankali Temple in Secunderabad has been scheduled for July 13 (Sunday), while the Simhavahini Ammavari Bonalu at Lal Darwaza will be conducted on July 20 (Sunday), rounding off the major events of the season. Traditionally observed during Ashadam, Bonalu is one of Telangana's oldest festivals. Devotees prepare special rice offerings and carry them in decorated pots to local temples, seeking the protection of the Goddess. The celebrations also include processions, drumming, and other traditional performances across neighborhoods. The Hyderabad Bonalu begins each year either on the first Thursday or the first Sunday of Ashada, starting with the offering at Golconda and concluding with major events at Lal Darwaza and Secunderabad.
