HYDERABAD, AUGUST 11, 2026: The traditional Ashada Bonalu celebrations were held with great fervour and devotion in Patancheru town on Tuesday, with hundreds of devotees participating in the festivities and offering Bonalu to Goddess Pochamma Thalli.
The celebrations featured a grand procession of Bonalu offerings, Palaaram Bandi, Thotelus (cradles) and Ghatams, along with traditional music and cultural performances by artists. The temple authorities said the festivities were organised in accordance with the longstanding traditions associated with the Bonalu festival.
Smt. K. Sujatha, Sangareddy District Disha Committee Member and Senior BJP Mahila Morcha Leader, participated in the celebrations along with her family members and offered special prayers to Goddess Pochamma.
Speaking on the occasion, Sujatha said Bonalu is one of Telangana’s most important traditional festivals and reflects the state’s rich cultural heritage and spiritual traditions. “Bonalu is celebrated with immense devotion and enthusiasm. Women and devotees carry Bonalu offerings in colourful processions and present them to the Goddess as naivedyam. The festival represents the cultural traditions of Telangana and stands as a symbol of the self-respect and cultural identity of the Telugu people,” she said.
She also highlighted the close cultural and devotional ties between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh associated with the Bonalu tradition. As part of the Ashada Bonalu celebrations, devotees from Telangana traditionally offer Bonalu to Goddess Kanaka Durga at Indrakeeladri in Vijayawada every year.
In Hyderabad, the tradition of offering a special Golden Bonam to the Goddess continues under the aegis of the Bhagyanagar Sri Mahankali Jatara Bonalu Celebrations Joint Temples Procession Committee. The annual tradition, which has continued for more than a decade, has contributed to strengthening the cultural and devotional bonds between the people of the two Telugu states.
The Bonalu celebrations at temples were marked by elaborate rituals and devotional fervour. Devotees prepared traditional offerings, including rice, curd and jaggery, and presented them to the Goddess while fulfilling their vows. Traditional attractions such as the trance rituals of Shiv Sattuls, drum performances, Patnams and fire-walking ceremonies added to the festive atmosphere.
Inviting relatives and participating in special prayers at village temples during Bonalu is a longstanding tradition among families in the twin cities and surrounding areas, with the practice being passed down through generations.
Among those who participated in the celebrations and special prayers were Vinod Kumar Mudiraj, Sai Mudiraj, Chitla Shiva Kumar Mudiraj (PR & Media Consultant), Gauthamnagar BJP Booth President Kundan Mudiraj, pencil artist Karthik, Nagasani Jagadeesh, and Nagasani Narsing Mudiraj, along with other devotees and community members.
The festivities concluded amid devotional chants, traditional music and the enthusiastic participation of devotees, reflecting the enduring cultural significance of the Bonalu festival in Telangana.
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