The Ritual :
The one-month long festival, celebrated over seven days, is marked by devotional
singing and ritualistic worship to the village deities. The word "Bonalu" is
derived from "Bhojanalu" meaning food, which is offered to the Goddess. On the
final day of the celebrations, "Ghatams" the floral decorated pots with
flickering flames that are worshipped as the image of the deity are carried on the heads
by the women folk in a procession. The Pujari carries the main Ghatam and is accompanied
by four drummers and Potharaju, who is believed to be the protector of the village. With
the drummers announcing the arrival of the Deity, the procession proceeds halting at
places to accept offerings.
Potharaju is a well-built man, attired in dhoti, with turmeric smeared all over his body,
a garland around his neck, vermilion on his forehead and bells tied to his ankle. He
carries a whip and lashes it against his body to the sound of the drum (dappu) beats (the
wide known theatre form "Veeratallu"). Sometimes he goes into a trance and
predicts the future of the community. After a long range of rituals including the animal
sacrifice in the name of the deity, these ghatams are immersed in the river.
This festival is celebrated with
aplomb in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad and the famous Mahankali
Jatara of Secunderabad is a part of this. It is believed that rulers of the
successive dynasties, including tolerant Muslim emperors, celebrated Bonalu festival at
the temple of Goddess Jagadambika inside the Golconda Fort. The State government also
performs pooja officially, on behalf of the people. |
