Ashada Bonalu 2026 Begins at Golconda with Grand Traditional Rituals

The vibrant Ashada Bonalu festivities got underway with traditional grandeur in Hyderabad on Thursday , as the Telangana Government inaugurated the annual celebrations by offering the ceremonial first Bonam and Pattu Vastralu (silk robes) to the deities at Kanakala Katta Maisamma Temple and the historic Golconda Jagadamba Mahankali Temple . Thousands of devotees, women carrying decorated Bonams, folk artistes and Pothurajus thronged the temples, marking the beginning of one of Telangana's most significant cultural and religious festivals.

The celebrations began with the traditional Kummari Tholi Bonam ritual at Lower Tank Bund , where Transport and BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar and Endowments Minister Konda Surekha , on behalf of the state government, offered the first Bonam to Kanakala Katta Maisamma . Temple priests conducted special rituals amid Vedic chants, while the ministers prayed for abundant rainfall, prosperity and the well-being of the people of Telangana.

Speaking on the occasion, Ponnam Prabhakar said Bonalu represents the spirit of Telangana's culture and traditions. He said the government had made comprehensive arrangements to ensure the smooth conduct of the festivities and the convenience of devotees, with all departments working in coordination.

The ministers later proceeded to the Sri Sri Sri Golconda Jagadamba Mahankali Temple near Langar Houz , where they offered Pattu Vastralu to the Goddess and participated in special prayers conducted according to temple traditions.

One of the highlights of the celebrations was the energetic performance by the Pothurajus , who are regarded as the symbolic guardians and brothers of Goddess Mahankali in Bonalu traditions. Ponnam Prabhakar joined them in a traditional dance, drawing enthusiastic cheers from devotees. The temple surroundings reverberated with the beats of drums, colourful Kolatam performances, folk dances and displays by Shiva Sattulu , while women dressed in traditional attire carried beautifully decorated Bonams on their heads as offerings to the Goddess.

To ensure the smooth conduct of the festival, the Hyderabad Police and civic authorities put in place elaborate arrangements, including enhanced security deployment, traffic regulation, CCTV surveillance, medical camps, sanitation services, drinking water facilities, emergency response teams and dedicated queue management systems for devotees.

Celebrated during the Ashada month, Bonalu is one of Telangana's official State festivals , dedicated to Goddess Mahankali as an expression of gratitude for safeguarding communities from disease and misfortune while seeking blessings for health, prosperity and a bountiful monsoon. The festival is widely believed to have originated in the early 19th century , when devotees vowed to offer Bonams after a devastating plague subsided in the Hyderabad region. Following the ceremonial inauguration at Golconda , the month-long celebrations will continue at prominent temples across the city, including the renowned Ujjaini Mahankali Temple in Secunderabad and the Lal Darwaza Mahankali Temple , which are expected to witness lakhs of devotees in the coming weeks.