GO.No.5 Bonalu Festival is a Telangana State Festival

Bonalu Festival is a Telangana State Festival, Government of Telangana State, Revenue Department has issued Government Order Ms.No.5 on 26th June 2014. In this order, the Government has declared “BONALU FESTIVAL” as a State festival. As per GO.Ms.No.5 The Mahankali Jatara, popular as Lashkar Bonalu has been declared as a State Festival in Telangana State.

In this connection, Government has sanctioned an amount of Rs.25.00 lakhs (Rupees twenty-five lakhs only) for Conducting of Bonalu Festival in the months of July & August 2014 in various “Ammavari Temples” in the twin cities, subject to ensuring rational coverage of all the prominent temples, depending on the expected congregation of devotees. As Per GO.No.5, Govt. Declared  “BONALU FESTIVAL” as State festival

GOVERNMENT OF TELANGANA Endowments Department – “BONALU FESTIVAL” – Declaration as State festival – Orders – Issued. REVENUE (ENDTS.II) DEPARTMENT G.O.Ms.No.5; Dated: 26-06-2014.  

Read: From the Commissioner of Endowments Department, Hyderabad, Letter dated 17-06-2014.  

ORDER: The Commissioner Endowments Department, Telangana, Hyderabad has reported that Ashada Jathara a unique festival is popularly known as Bonalu Festival, will be commenced every year at Sri Jagabamba Mahankali temple, Golkonda and the same continues to be celebrated during the Ashada Masam in nearly 115 temples in Twin Cities.

Sri Ujjainini Mahankali temple, Secunderabad has also been performing the Bonalu festivals as per the custom and usage for several decades. There will be huge Congregation of devotees and therefore it is necessary to provide basic amenities to the pilgrims like supply of drinking water, sanitation, electricity and also maintenance of law and order, etc,

for which the involvement of various departments of Government is required apart from financial aid for performing the festival in a peaceful and successful manner. The Commissioner Endowments Department has therefore requested for declaring the “BONALU FESTIVAL” as State Festival.

2. Government, after careful examination of the proposal of the Commissioner of Endowments Department, Telangana, Hyderabad has decided to declare the celebrations of the “BONALU FESTIVAL”   as a State festival.  
3. The government accordingly hereby declares the celebrations of the “BONALU FESTIVAL” as State Festival.   
4. The Commissioner of Endowments Department, Telangana Hyderabad and all the concerned Departments shall take necessary action accordingly.

About “BONALU FESTIVAL”

Bonalu Festival is a Hindu Festival, Now it is a Telangana State Festival. Goddess Mahankali is worshipped. Bonalu is an annual festival celebrated in Twin Cities Hyderabad, Secunderabad and parts of Telangana State, India. It is celebrated in the month of Ashada Masam, in July or August. Special poojas are performed for Yellamma on the first and last days of the Bonalu festival. The festival is also considered a thanksgiving to the fulfillment of vows.

Bonam means Bojanam or a Meal in Telugu, is an Offering to Mother Goddess. Women prepare rice cooked with Milk, Jaggery in a New brass or Earthen Pot adorned with Neelam Leaves, Turmeric, Vermilion and a Lighted Diya n the top of the Pot. Women carry the pots on their heads and make an offering of Bonam along with Turmeric-Vermilion, Bangles, and Saree to the Mother Goddess across the Temples.

Bonalu involves the worship of Kali and her various forms. Goddess is worshipped as Mysamma, Pochamma, Yellamma, Peddamma, Dokkalamma, Ankalamma, Poleramma, Maremma, Nookalamma, etc.

• Sanctioned Amount Conducting of Bonalu Festival

Download the GO.Ms.No.5 from here