Bonalu fervour grips Secunderabad

The Mahankali Bonalu Jatara began on Sunday on a devotional note at 4 am. Devotees in large numbers and VVIPs offered their respects to the Goddess. The temple authorities said that approximately 6 lakh devotees had visited the temple on Sunday and it may further increase by 2 lakh later in the evening.

Police had a tough time control and regulate the rush. Majority of the devotees expressed their dissatisfaction for the delay caused due to visits of the ministers and VVIPs. “The temple authorities should make alternate arrangements to the general devotees to seek quick darshan as they are waiting with their children and women carrying bonams on their heads in the hot sun,” they complained.

VVIPs offer respects Pattu Vastralu made by the family of Tallasani Yadav minister for commercial taxes cinematography, was presented to the Goddess. M Hari Babu, vice president of the Deccan Manava Seva Samithi said that they distributed 6 lakh water packets on Sunday to all the devotees and expected to distribute 2 more lakhs on Monday.

Many NGOs and service organisations had distributed free pulihora (yellow rice), sweet and other prasadams. Other ministers who visited are Venkaigh Naiudu, B Dattatreya, Keshav Rao, Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao, Indrakarn Reddy, Anjan Kumar Yadav, K Kavitha, N Narsimaha Reddy, E Rajender, D Sreenivasa Rao, VH Hanumantha Rao, D Nagender and DK Aruna among others.

Keeping a tradition alive

At seventy-five, Shankuntala, who has been making the Thottelu since her childhood, still loves making the colourful structures with wooden pieces that are draped in colourful paper for devotees. One of the last artisans in the trade, the septuagenarian does not see the younger generation taking up the trade.

She along with her family makes about 150 Thotellus during Bonalu whose prices ranges from Rs 300 to Rs 3,000 depended on the length. A Telangana tradition, carrying the Thottelu is seen as a mark of respect and is believed that the Goddess comes back to her maternal home during Ashada Masam.

Shankuntala remembers girls in half-sarees preparing for days on end for the Bonalu festival. Sitting in her house at Esamia Bazaar, Shankuntala says, “Old clients keep coming back every year. The tradition will never die but one should not compromise on quality.”