Bonalu

Women carry the pots on their heads and make an offering of the Bonam along with turmeric-vermilion, bangles and sari to the Mother Goddess across the temples.[2] Bonalu involves the worship of Mother Goddess in regional forms such as Maisamma, Pochamma, Yellamma, Peddhamma, Dokkalamma, Ankalamma, Poleramma, Maremma, Nookalamma.When this military battalion from Hyderabad got news that the epidemic had hit their native land, they became fearful for the lives and safety of their families.When the battalion returned to their homeland, they built the Ujjaini Mahakali Temple and installed an idol of the goddess, in fulfilment of their vow.Some Tranced women dance with balancing pots (Bonam), to the rhythmic beats of drums in honour of the local goddess.Every group of devotees offer a Thottelu (a small colorful, paper structure supported by sticks), as a mark of respect to the goddess.The festival begins on the first Sunday of the Hindu Month of Ashada which is known as Edurukolu, which is celebrated as the homecoming of the goddess in the form of Ghatam.His role is played in the procession by a well-built, bare-bodied man, wearing a small tightly draped red dhoti, bells on his ankles, and anointed with turmeric on his body and vermilion on his forehead.He leads the female dancers who are under the spell of the Mother Goddess (known as shigam) to the temple, with lashing whips and emerald neem leaves (margosa) tied around their waists, accompanied by trumpets and drums.However, with the advent of modernization and government control over peasant traditions, people have been restricted to only use pumpkins, bottle gourds, coconuts and lemons.[11] The festival has a carnival-like atmosphere, where thousands of people wait along the main streets of Laldarwaza to Nayapul and watch the exquisitely and elaborately decorated Ghatams.Young men dance in a unique style to the drum beats and folk songs alongside Pothuraju, and dress-up in various mythological roles.