Telangana Bonalu festival: Devotees thank Goddess Kali for fulfilment of vows

Bonalu is an annual festival of Telangana celebrated in Twin Cities Hyderabad, Secunderabad and other parts of Telangana. (Photos: PTI, AP)

People dress up during a procession to celebrate Bonalu unal festival. The word Bonam is a contraction of the word Bhojanam, a Sanskrit loanword which means a meal or a feast in Telugu, is an Offering to Mother Goddess. Women prepare rice cooked with milk and jaggery in a new Brass or Earthen Pot adorned with Neem leaves, turmeric, and lit a lamp on 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.

A man dances, balancing on his head, a decorated pot filled with cooked rice as an offering for goddess Kali during the Bonalu festival in Hyderabad.

Indian Hindu women carry decorated pots filled with cooked rice as an offering for Hindu goddess Kali.

Indian artists pose for a group photo before performing during a procession of "Bonalu" festival in Hyderabad.

An Indian artist gets make up before a performance during a procession of "Bonalu". The history of the origin of this festival traces back to the 18th Century, and is linked with the "Regimental Bazaar" and the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad.

An Indian artist performs during a procession of "Bonalu" festival in Hyderabad. Bonalu involves the worship of Mother Goddess in regional forms like Mysamma, Pochamma, Yellamma, Peddhamma, Dokkalamma, Ankalamma, Poleramma, Maremma, Nookalamma.

Indian artists wait to perform during a procession of "Bonalu" festival in Hyderabad. The festival is also considered a thanksgiving to the Goddess for fulfillment of vows.