Latest news with #Bonams
New Indian Express
14-07-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
Secunderabad streets soak in Bonalu spirit
HYDERABAD: The lanes of Secunderabad transformed into a vibrant canvas of devotion and tradition on Sunday as the two-day grand Lashkar Bonalu celebrations began at the historic Sri Ujjaini Mahakali Temple. With the sun beating down harshly, thousands of devotees — young and old — braved the heat to offer prayers and take part in one of Telangana's most significant folk festivals. From early morning at 3 am, hundreds of women, draped in bright traditional sarees and adorned with flowers, made their way through the crowded streets carrying Bonams — decorated clay pots filled with rice, jaggery, curd, turmeric, and neem leaves, with a small lit lamp on top of their heads. Local devotees expressed their emotional connection to the festival. Rupa Sarath, from Uppal, said, 'I have been coming here for 15 years. No matter how hot it gets, offering a Bonam gives me peace.' Ruthika, a young woman from Bholakpur, said, 'It's part of my life since childhood. We've grown up coming to Bonalu. Even the heat can't stop us.' Eventually, as the sun set, the streets grew busier and livelier. Potharajus, the traditional guardians of the goddess, danced to drumbeats, covered in turmeric and striking their whips, creating energy in the crowd. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy visited the temple to offer pattu vastralu (silk clothes) to the goddess and participated in special pujas. He was welcomed with a traditional Poornakumbham by temple priests and greeted by devotees. Accompanying him were Ministers Ponnam Prabhakar, Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy, Konda Surekha, Danasari Anasuya, and CM's Advisor Vem Narender Reddy.
New Indian Express
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Bonalu begins in grand style at Golconda
HYDERABAD: The historic Golconda Fort came alive with colour, devotion and festive fervour as the annual Bonalu celebrations kicked off on a grand note on Thursday. The month-long festivities began with traditional prayers to Goddess Jagadambika at the Sri Jagadamba Mahankali temple atop the fort. The first Bonam — a traditional offering of rice, jaggery, curd and neem leaves carried in decorated brass or earthen pots — was brought in a massive procession from Langar Houz Crossroads, accompanied by beats of drums, chants and the rhythmic dance of 'Potharajus' wielding whips. Women dressed in vibrant traditional attire thronged the temple, offering Bonams to the goddess as priests performed age-old rituals. The celebration, rooted in Telangana's rich folk culture, draws lakhs of devotees every year from Hyderabad, Secunderabad and beyond. Endowments Minister Konda Surekha presented 'Pattu Vastralu' (silk robes) to the goddess on behalf of the state government. The event also saw participation from Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar, Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar, Mayor Gadwal Vijayalaxmi, BJP MP Eatala Rajender, BRS MLC K Kavitha, Congress MLC and veteran actress Vijayashanti, among other leaders. Bonalu festivities are held in three phases across the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad. Following the Golconda celebrations, Secunderabad Bonalu at Ujjaini Mahankali temple will take place on July 13 and 14, and the festival will conclude with Lal Darwaza and Old City Bonalu on July 20 and 21. To support the celebrations, the state government has released `20 crore to 2,783 Mahankali temples in Hyderabad. Authorities have put in place elaborate security and traffic arrangements to ensure a smooth experience for devotees.
Hans India
21-06-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Proposed Bonalu at Bhadrakali temple in Warangal deferred
Endowments Minister Konda Surekha on Friday announced the temporary postponement of the government's proposal to organise Bonalu for the Bhadrakali Ammavaru in Warangal. The decision follows objections from a section of the public and the dissemination of 'fake news' regarding the matter in various media outlets. The Minister revealed that the Bonalu organisation was being temporarily deferred due to suspicions that some individuals would intentionally create problems by linking current local political differences with the holy goddess, potentially inciting anti social forces and creating conflicts during the programme. Meanwhile, she reiterated that the local Executive Officer (EO), Vedic scholars, and the government had repeatedly affirmed that only vegetarian 'bonas' (offerings) would be held within the limits of the Bhadrakali Ammavari Temple. She stated that, according to Agama Shastra and the decision of Vedic scholars, they believed the event should be held in the Bhadrakali Temple. However, she noted that 'wrong signals' were sent to the public when some individuals claimed that Bonams were being held with non vegetarian food. She condemned attempts to fill the minds of devotees with 'wrong feelings for the sake of politics.' Minister Surekha issued a statement to the media to this effect on Friday. She explained that the decision was made to temporarily cancel the Bonalu planned for the Bhadrakali Ammavari Temple on June 22. The Minister stressed that the government's primary objective was to preserve pure devotion towards the Goddess and uphold sacred traditions.
