Bonalu or Mahankali Bonalu Jatara is a thanksgiving festival dedicated to Goddess Mahankali.
Thousands of devoteesm including CM K Rosaiah and Information and Public Relations Minister J Geetha Reddy, on Sunday, performed special poojas to mark Bonalu Jatara at Ujjaini Mahankali temple in Secunderabad.
The chief minister offered silk clothes to the Goddess Mahankali and performed special poojas, before which the temple authorities gave him a traditional welcome.
The temple authorities and police made elaborate security arrangements to mark his visit to the temple.
BJP state president Kishan Reddy and senior leader Bhandaru Dattatreya also offered special poojas to Goddess Mahankali on Sunday morning.
Thousands of devotees beelined to the temple since early hours to perform the pooja with pomp and fervour.
Bonalu is an annual festival celebrated throughout the Telangana region, especially in the twin cities of Secunderabad and Hyderabad.
The Ujjaini Mahankali Temple Bonalu Jatara, also known as Lashkar Bonalu, is a grand event celebrated for 2 days in the Aashada Masam of the Telugu calendar.
Bonalu or Mahankali Bonalu Jatara is a thanksgiving festival dedicated to Goddess Mahankali, who is also worshipped as Maisamma, Yellamma (Renuka Mata), Pochamma, Peddamma, Poleramma, Maramma, and Ankalamma.
'Bonam' means 'Bojanaalu' or 'meal' in Telugu, and is an offering to Mahankali. During the fest, women bring their offerings in clay pots decorated with colours, neem leaves and a diya on the top. They carry the pots on their head and proceed towards a Kali temple from their homes, and perform some special poojas to offer 'bonam' to the Goddess.
In 1869, when plague hit the city of Hyderabad, people thought the epidemic was a result of the Goddess' anger, and initiated the Bonalu festival to pacify Her.
Meanwhile buses on some routes have been diverted, from 4am on Sunday to 10pm on Monday.
Courtesy: INN