As Telangana celebrates the Bonalu festival, here are colourful shots of religion and culture

Bonalu or Goddess Mahankali Bonalu is a Hindu festival celebrated annually in Telangana. Devotees, especially women, perform rituals and dances and prepare special food offerings to the deity as a way of giving thanks for fulfilling their prayers. 
Bonalu is celebrated in the Ashada Masam (July/August) month of the Hindu calendar. People perform various rituals during this month. It is a thanksgiving month where people offer prayers to the Goddess Mahakali for the fulfillment of their wishes.  (R Sa
Bonalu is celebrated in the Ashada Masam (July/August) month of the Hindu calendar. People perform various rituals during this month. It is a thanksgiving month where people offer prayers to the Goddess Mahakali for the fulfillment of their wishes. (R Sa
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Bonalu, in simple terms means fest, an offering to the Mother Goddess. Varieties of traditional dishes are prepared during this festival, and women perform ritual dances on the streets to the beat of drums. Large crowds of people take part in the annual procession.  (R Satish Babu | Express Photo Service)
Bonalu, in simple terms means fest, an offering to the Mother Goddess. Varieties of traditional dishes are prepared during this festival, and women perform ritual dances on the streets to the beat of drums. Large crowds of people take part in the annual procession. (R Satish Babu | Express Photo Service)
Lakhs of devotees turn up every year to offer their prayers to the Goddess. People believe that the Goddess takes away their pain and makes their life easier.  (R Satish Babu | Express Photo Service)
Lakhs of devotees turn up every year to offer their prayers to the Goddess. People believe that the Goddess takes away their pain and makes their life easier. (R Satish Babu | Express Photo Service)
Women turn out in traditional sarees and jewellery, while young girls wear a half sari or lehenga on the day of the festival. They gather together and go in procession to the temple, carrying on their heads pots filled with the special dishes they cooked at home to offer to the Goddess. (R Satish Babu | Express Photo Service)
Women turn out in traditional sarees and jewellery, while young girls wear a half sari or lehenga on the day of the festival. They gather together and go in procession to the temple, carrying on their heads pots filled with the special dishes they cooked at home to offer to the Goddess. (R Satish Babu | Express Photo Service)
There are various beliefs about Bonalu. Some say the Bonalu origin traces back to the 19th century.  A plague had broken out in 1813, killing thousands of people. Just before the plague a Hyderabad military battalion was sent to Ujjain. When this battalion came to know about the epidemic that was spreading in their hometown, it is said that they prayed to Goddess Mahakali at the Mahakaleshwar Temple in  Ujjain. Devotees believe that the Goddess listened to their prayers and took away the plague, following which the battalion started celebrating the fest in her honour. Thus it became a tradition.  (R Satish Babu | Express Photo Service)
There are various beliefs about Bonalu. Some say the Bonalu origin traces back to the 19th century. A plague had broken out in 1813, killing thousands of people. Just before the plague a Hyderabad military battalion was sent to Ujjain. When this battalion came to know about the epidemic that was spreading in their hometown, it is said that they prayed to Goddess Mahakali at the Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain. Devotees believe that the Goddess listened to their prayers and took away the plague, following which the battalion started celebrating the fest in her honour. Thus it became a tradition. (R Satish Babu | Express Photo Service)
Others also believe that it is the time when the Goddess visits her parental home. The festival is widely celebrated in a grand manner in the state.  (R Satish Babu | Express Photo Service)
Others also believe that it is the time when the Goddess visits her parental home. The festival is widely celebrated in a grand manner in the state. (R Satish Babu | Express Photo Service)

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