Unique Bonalu festival celebrations at Lal Bazar

More Than 150 years old Lal Bazar Sri Bujili Mahankali temple in Secunderabad Cantonment has a different kind of celebrations. Usually, Bonalu starts on Sunday. In a unique case of diversity in unity, the festival is celebrated on Wednesday and Thursday in which even Christians and Muslims also participate and extend support.Long ago, a man called Kummari Gangaiah used to live by selling lime prepared by crushing the stones. He used to transport the lime in bullock carts. One day, his carts suddenly stopped and could not move forward when they reached the area, where the present temple is located. He did not understand what was happening. 

The other day, the Goddess appeared in his dream and asked to construct a temple for her. He then constructed a temple in 1905 and started performing rituals which are still continuing. 

Perumakka, a devotee from Secunderabad renovated the temple and installed a huge idol as part of redeeming her vows. 

Nagalingam, Narsimham, and the descendants of Ambati Kummari Gangaiah take the procession of Ghatam from the outskirts to various streets in the locality in a grand manner. The temple follows the old tradition of festival duties being shared between people and communities of both Trimulgherry and Lal Bazar, and till today the same families are continuing to perform their duties that are carried forward by their ancestors. 

Keeping the Old Traditions intact and carrying forward the rituals for the grand success of two days bonalu festival.

By: Shravan Vaddepalli