Historians Trace Telangana Bonalu Festival Roots Back More Than 2300 Years

Historians have traced the origins of the traditional Bonalu festival in Telangana back more than 2,300 years to prehistoric times, citing ancient rock art, inscriptions, and sculptures. Key evidence of these prehistoric food offerings to deities has been identified at Dasarlapalli on the outskirts of Hyderabad, as well as in Kamareddy and Kothagudem districts.

According to historian Dr. Dyavanpalli Satyanarayana, the tradition of offering "Bonam"—a traditional meal of cooked rice offered to village deities like Pochamma, Yellamma, and Maisamma—has continued across the region for centuries. The annual ritual, celebrated during the Hindu month of Ashada Masam, historically coincides with the onset of the monsoon to pray for protection against seasonal illnesses, healthy crops, and the well-being of livestock.

Dr. Satyanarayana pointed to prehistoric rock art paintings depicting food offerings to deities at Matthamralla Thanda in Kamareddy district, Dasarlapalli near Hyderabad, and Aksharala Loddi in Kothagudem district as evidence of the festival's ancient roots.

Further historical proof includes an inscription from 1516 CE during the Vijayanagara Empire, which is currently preserved at the State Archaeology Museum. The inscription specifically documents "Bonam" as a practice of offering cooked rice to goddesses, indicating that the ritual was well-established long before the 16th century.

Literary records also support the festival's deep roots. Medieval texts from the 13th-century Kakatiya period, such as the Siddeshwara Charithra and Prathapa Charithra, record that Queen Rudramadevi offered Bonam to Eka Veera Devi of Mogilicherla in Warangal district. Additionally, a miniature painting of Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah depicts Bonalu celebrations in Chichulam village before the official founding of Hyderabad in 1591.

S. Haragopal, the convener of Kotha Telangana Charithra Brundam, highlighted physical sculptural evidence of the tradition. At the Velpugonda Thumbureshwara Temple in Tekmal Mandal of Medak district, a sculpture depicts a woman balancing a pot on her head. Similar sculptures of women carrying pots have been found in Potlapalli in Siddipet district, carved on pillars dedicated to serpent deities.