Bonalu is one of the most auspicious festivals of Telangana. A Kali worshiping folk festival in the twin cities of Hyderabad, Secunderabad.
Bonalu festival is an important and popular festival celebrated in Hyderabad and Secunderabad of Telangana State. The festival is celebrated in the month of Ashada, that is the monsoon in South India. It is a month long affair for the prayers of the Goddess Kali.
First the main festival is held on first Sunday of the Ashada month at the Sri Jagadamba temple at Golkonda fort, the next is on the second Sunday at the Sri Ujjain Mahankali Temple in Secunderabad and the third celebration on the third Sunday at the Sri Mathaeswari Temple of Laldarwaja and rest of twin cities.
Bonam means Bhojanam, a meal. Bonam is a feast an offering to the Goddess, and consists of cooked sweet rice, curd rice and a leafy vegetable with tamarin soup. Bonam pot is adorned with Neem leaves, turmeric, vermilion and a lamp lit on the top of the pot which is carried all the way to temple with faith, love and respect, the devotees also dress to celebrations, but walk all the way barefoot.
These images are glimpses into the grandest folk festival in the State of Telangana. It attempts to showcase the unique worship of the Mother Goddess Kali, this is one of the oldest Hindu traditional folk festivals in the region of Telangana, in peninsular India.
Photograph Vidhyasagar Lakka with KV Ramana Chary, cultural adviser to Telangana state
Vidhyasagar Lakka attempts to open a window to the origin and beliefs behind Bonalu, the festival that is witnessing widespread resurgence in the modern times.
This is a reflection and desire to keep alive the tradition of worship of the Mother Goddess even the rapidly changing modern – day ‘hi-tech’ context, where bits and bytes and large bandwidths blur the goal of spiritual life of livingEmbracing the motto ‘Show. Don’t tell’ the authour’s camera becomes a tool to show case the visual experience of Bonalu, and for the faithful dissemination of his impressions across. This is therefore a result of the author’s passion for the realistic preservation of India’s local cultures and traditions through his photography, It takes you on a tour of the Bonalu, revealing the colour, the excitement, the energy and the unforgettable feel of the spectacle that unfolds in the streets of twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad.
The vibrant, month long celebrations reveal roots of the culture of this region, and more particularly unique culture of Hyderabad.
Photographer Vidhyasagar Lakka with Bonalu cofee table book where his works also featured.
L.Vidhyasagar Lakka an Alumnus of JNTU fine arts photography and Hyderabad central university. Did post-graduation in TV production. Currently working in ICRISAT. He is member of Telangana photography Society. His contact number : 9000442252
Thanks for remembering me and sharing the information. Hope you and your family is doing fine.
Congratulations and hats off to you sir for conserving the cultural heritage of Telangana region through the lens of your photography. Awesome depiction of the cultural significance of food and spirituality associated with the monsoon festival festival called Bonalu through your amazing angles of photography.
I wish you many more such features bringing out the cultural significance of Telangana through your powerful lens.
Take care. Stay safe stay healthy.
Regards
Kavitha
Awesome depiction of the cultural significance of food and spirituality associated with the monsoon festival festival called Bonalu through your amazing angles of photography.
I wish you many more such features bringing out the cultural significance of Telangana through your powerful lens. All the best Vidya.
Awesome depiction of the Bonalu cultural significance of food and spirituality associated with the monsoon festival festival called Bonalu through your amazing angles of photography.
I wish you many more such features bringing out the cultural significance of Telangana through your powerful lens.
All the best Vidya.
Congratulations and hats off to you for conserving the cultural heritage of Telangana region through the lens of your photography. Awesome depiction of the cultural significance of food and spirituality associated with the monsoon festival festival called Bonalu .
Thank you Ramesh babu Garu for publishing on Telupu.
It’s an enjoyable reading article. My main interest is to popularize the Bonala festival
Once again thank you Ramesh Garu.
Vidyasagar
Bonalu is one of the most auspicious festivals of Telangana. A Kali worshiping folk festival in the twin cities of Hyderabad, Secunderabad.
Bonalu festival is an important and popular festival celebrated in Hyderabad and Secunderabad of Telangana State. The festival is celebrated in the month of Ashada, that is the monsoon in South India. It is a month long affair for the prayers of the Goddess Kali.
Bonam means Bhojanam, a meal. Bonam is a feast an offering to the Goddess, and consists of cooked sweet rice, curd rice and a leafy vegetable with tamarin soup. Bonam pot is adorned with Neem leaves, turmeric, vermilion and a lamp lit on the top of the pot which is carried all the way to temple with faith, love and respect, the devotees also dress to celebrations, but walk all the way barefoot.
This is a reflection and desire to keep alive the tradition of worship of the Mother Goddess even the rapidly changing modern – day ‘hi-tech’ context, where bits and bytes and large bandwidths blur the goal of spiritual life of livingEmbracing the motto ‘Show. Don’t tell’ the authour’s camera becomes a tool to show case the visual experience of Bonalu, and for the faithful dissemination of his impressions across. This is therefore a result of the author’s passion for the realistic preservation of India’s local cultures and traditions through his photography, It takes you on a tour of the Bonalu, revealing the colour, the excitement, the energy and the unforgettable feel of the spectacle that unfolds in the streets of twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad.
Dear Sir,
Thanks for remembering me and sharing the information. Hope you and your family is doing fine.
Congratulations and hats off to you sir for conserving the cultural heritage of Telangana region through the lens of your photography. Awesome depiction of the cultural significance of food and spirituality associated with the monsoon festival festival called Bonalu through your amazing angles of photography.
I wish you many more such features bringing out the cultural significance of Telangana through your powerful lens.
Take care. Stay safe stay healthy.
Regards
Kavitha
This is about Bonalu. covered the people involved, all the places where celebrated and every thing about the festival. Great work.
Awesome depiction of the cultural significance of food and spirituality associated with the monsoon festival festival called Bonalu through your amazing angles of photography.
I wish you many more such features bringing out the cultural significance of Telangana through your powerful lens. All the best Vidya.
Awesome depiction of the Bonalu cultural significance of food and spirituality associated with the monsoon festival festival called Bonalu through your amazing angles of photography.
I wish you many more such features bringing out the cultural significance of Telangana through your powerful lens.
All the best Vidya.
Congratulations and hats off to you sir for conserving the cultural heritage of Telangana
Srinivas.
Congratulations and hats off to you for conserving the Hindu cultural heritage of Telangana.
– Srinivas.
Congratulations
Nice.
Excellent photographs and interesting article! Congratulations!
Hi
Very nice and good showing festival. Jail matha ki 🙏
Jail math
Nice photos
Anatha Chai
Congratulations and hats off to you for conserving the cultural heritage of Telangana region through the lens of your photography. Awesome depiction of the cultural significance of food and spirituality associated with the monsoon festival festival called Bonalu .
Very impressive – Chandramohan
Super
Jaya
Awesome!!!!
Wow Awesome!!!!
Aadhya
Congratulations
ఆ అమ్మవారి ఆశీర్వాదం మి పై వుండాలని కోరుతూ,
బోనాలు పండుగలు రాష్ట్ర పండుగలుగా గుర్తింపులోకి రావడం, అవి ఘనంగా జరుపడం చూస్తున్నాం..
Your images speak for themselves.
lovingly captured, cultural activities and a way of life in
Telangana region.
We never attended bonalu but after seeing your photos we feel like we watching live Thanks
Nice documentation of Telangana lesser-known festival Bonalu.
Thank you, Vidyasagar
For a colorful a feast.
Thank you, Vidyasagar
For a colorful feast.
Thank you Ramesh babu Garu for publishing on Telupu.
It’s an enjoyable reading article. My main interest is to popularize the Bonala festival
Once again thank you Ramesh Garu.
Vidyasagar
Nice picture
Good picture