2018 "Bonalu Festival" Dates [Secunderabad, Hyd & Warangal]

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The upcoming state festival bonalu is scheduled from, 15 July - 5th August 2018. The decorations and the events to be held in the Ujjaini Mahankali Temple during the festival draw lakhs of devotees.

Mahankali Jatra is also called as Bonalu. In order to honor the goddess of power Kali, the people belonging to Secunderabad and Hyderabad celebrate this festival in Telangana.

This festival is dedicated to Goddess Adi Shakti so that she wards off the epidemics and evils in and around the surrounding regions.

Mahankali Jatra's another name Bonalu was derived from Bhojanalu, which means a meal in the Telugu language. According to the Hindu calendar, this event goes on for two days in the month of Ashada, which is between July to August.

Every Sunday for the whole month, people celebrate this festival in different parts of the city. People offer their prayers and enjoy as the carnival atmosphere kicks in.

On the festival's first and last day, different types of poojas are also performed for Yellamma. This festival can also be considered as thanking the Goddess because it is fulfilled all your vows.

Telangana Bonalu Festival 2018 Dates

• July 15 - The Bonalu Jatara 2018 will begin by offering 'Bonam' at Golconda Jagadamba Temple.
• July 22 - Bonam will be offered to Goddess Durga in Vijayawada Kanaka Durga Temple.
• July 29 - Bonalu at the Ujjaini Mahankali Temple in Secunderabad.
• July 30 - 'Rangam' and 'Phalaharam'.
• July - 'Bonalu' in Old City.
• August 5th - Concluding ceremony.

The first main festival is held on the first Sunday of the Ashada month at the Sri Jagadamba temple in Golconda Fort, the next main festival on the second Sunday at the Ujjain Mahankali Temple in Secunderabad and the third main festival on the third Sunday at the Matheswari Temple of Laldarwaja.

The rituals are also performed in all the other Goddess Shakti in the twin cities. Goddess Shakti is worshipped as Mahakali. Goddess Shakti or Kali is popularly known as Yellamma, Pochamma, Renuka Amma, Peddamma, Mysamma, Poleramma, Ankalamma, and Maramma.

The origin of the Bonalu festival is traced to a major plague that killed thousands of people in 1869. People believed the plague was the result of the anger of the Goddess and started offering Bonalu (food) to pacify her anger.

The procession is highly colorful and is accompanied by thousands of people and includes 'Potharaju'. So, the bonalu festival will begin on 15th July 2018.