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The Bonalu festival began on 26 June 2025 at the Sri Jagadamba Mahankali Temple atop Golconda Fort, Hyderabad.
Bonalu is a month-long folk festival of Telangana in which devotees offer Bonam to Goddess Mahankali.
Bonam is an offering of rice, jaggery, curd and neem leaves, carried by women in decorated pots.
The state government announced a grant of Rs 20 crore for temples associated with the festival.
Rituals feature rhythmic dances by Potharajus and fire performances.
Telangana's other major folk festival, a floral celebration observed around Navratri; Bathukamma and Bonalu are together treated as the state's signature festivals.
The festival's inaugural venue, historically the seat of the Qutb Shahi dynasty and long associated with the diamond trade, including the Kohinoor.
GS Paper 1 > Indian Heritage and Culture > Folk Traditions
General Awareness > States and their Festivals
The festival offering of rice, jaggery, curd and neem leaves, from the Sanskrit bhojanam meaning meal.
The male dancer who leads the Bonalu procession, regarded as the brother of the goddess.