Bonalu Festival: Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatreya offers prayers at temple in Hyderabad

Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], July 28 : On the occasion of Bonalu festival, Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatreya offered prayers at Simhavahini Mahankali temple in Hyderabad on Sunday.

After offering prayers, Bandaru Dattatreya, speaking with ANI, said, "In the culture of Telangana, the Bonalu festival is celebrated solemnly by women. They should be given respect in society and it is the government's as well as society's responsibility to protect women."
Telangana Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy also offered prayers at the Bhagyalakshmi Temple along with his family in Hyderabad on the occasion of the Bonalu festival on Sunday.
The Telangana Minister presented silk clothes to the goddess at the temple as an offering.
The Bonalu festival is a traditional Hindu celebration that is observed predominantly in the state of Telangana and is dedicated to Goddess Mahakali.
The festival is attended by the people of twin cities, Hyderabad and Secunderabad, during July and August.
Special poojas, or ceremonies, are conducted for Goddess Yellamma, who is one of the many regional forms of Goddess Mahakali.
The Bonalu festival is considered by devotees as a form of thanksgiving to Goddess Kali for answering their prayers and fulfilling their wishes.
The term 'Bonam' is derived from 'Bhojanam', a Sanskrit word that translates to feast in Telugu.
Meanwhile, in view of the Mahankali Bonalu Festival, all liquor shops, including non-proprietary clubs, star hotels, and restaurants, will not sell or serve liquor across Hyderabad.
The festival involves women preparing rice with jaggery in new earthen pots, which are then adorned with turmeric, vermillion, and neem leaves.
As part of the festival celebration, a lamp is lit on top of the pot, which the women carry on their heads to offer to Goddess Yellemma. They also carry bangles and a sari as part of the offering.