Bonalu Festival Celebrated in London by NRI Telugus

West London was awash with colour and tradition as the Telugu community celebrated the Bonalu festival, a significant event in the Telangana calendar. The streets were alive with the sight of women in traditional attire carrying bonams, offerings to the goddess Durga, seeking blessings for the well-being of Telangana and the global Telugu community.

The festival, organised by the Telangana Association of United Kingdom (TAUK), took place at Heston School in West London. The event saw an impressive turnout, with over 1,000 NRI families from various parts of the UK joining in the celebrations.

In a vibrant recreation of Secunderabad's famous ‘Lashkar’ festival, participants brought the traditional Pothuraju to the streets of London. Akshya Malchela, a student in the UK, embodied the spirit of Pothuraju, encouraging the community to uphold their cultural traditions. His dedication was recognised with a special felicitation from the organisers.

Hounslow Deputy Mayor Muhammad Shakeel Akram, the chief guest, commended TAUK for their efforts in promoting Telangana culture abroad. He praised the involvement of the NRI women in the festival, highlighting how their participation helped foster harmony and respect among the diverse communities in London. Mayor Akram expressed his pride in seeing the local British residents engage with Indian culture, specifically Telangana traditions, contributing to a broader cultural understanding and peace.

TAUK President Rathnakar Kadudula, Vice-President Shushmuna Reddy, and Vice-President Sathya Murthy Chilumula extended their gratitude to BRS MLC Kalvakuntla Kavitha for her guidance and support in organising the event. NRI BRS UK President & TAUK Convener Ashok Dusari also addressed the gathering.

Bonalu, a traditional Hindu festival dedicated to the Goddess Mahakali, is celebrated with great fervour in Telangana. The festival, which takes place in July or August, involves special poojas and offerings to the goddess. Women prepare rice cooked with milk and jaggery in new pots, adorned with neem leaves, turmeric, vermilion, and a lit lamp. These pots are carried to temples as offerings, symbolising a thanksgiving to the Goddess for the fulfilment of vows.

The origins of Bonalu trace back to the 18th century in Hyderabad, linked to the Ujjaini Mahakali Temple. The festival began when a military battalion, stationed in Ujjaini, prayed to the goddess to end a plague in their hometown. Upon their return, they built the temple and started the tradition of Bonalu as a form of gratitude.

This festival also symbolises the goddess Mahakali’s return to her parental home during the Hindu month of Aashada, similar to the custom of welcoming a married daughter back home.

The Bonalu celebration in London was a poignant reminder of the rich cultural heritage of Telangana, brought to life in the heart of a vibrant global city.