Bonalu or Mahankali bonalu (Telugu: బోనాలు ) is a Hindu Festival, Goddess Mahakali is worshiped. Bonalu is an annual festival of Telangana celebrated in Twin Cities Hyderabad, Secunderabad and other parts of Telangana, India. It is celebrated in the month of Ashada Masam, in July/August. Special poojas are performed for Yellamma on the first and last day of the festival. The festival is also considered a thanksgiving to the Goddess for fulfillment of vows.
Bonam means Bojanam or a Meal in Telugu, is an Offering to Mother Goddess. Women prepare rice cooked with పాలు-Milk, బెల్లం-Jaggery in a New Brass or Earthen Pot adorned with వేప-Neem Leaves, పసుపు-Turmeric, కుంకుమ-Vermilion and a ప్రమిధ-Lighted Diya on the top of the Pot. Women carry the pots on their heads and make offering of బోనం-Bonam along with పసుపు-కుంకుమ;Turmeric-Vermilion, గాజులు-Bangles and చీర-Saree to the Mother Goddess across the Temples.
Bonalu involves the worship of Kali and her various forms. Goddess is worshiped as మైసమ్మ-Mysamma, పోచమ్మ-Pochamma, ఎల్లమ్మ-Yellamma, పెద్దమ్మ-Pedamma, Dokkalamma, Ankalamma, Poleramma, Maremma, Nookalamma etc.,
Lucy went down on a farm, tried to milk a cow,
Though she tried she couldn't get the hang of it somehow.
The farmer looked at Lucy and murmured with a frown,
"Well you just hang on tightly, gal, and she'll jump up and down."
Chorus:
Oh, gather in the mushrooms, put 'em in a pot,
Pop 'em in the oven an serve 'em piping ho-ot.
To make herself more beautiful she thought she'd bathe in milk,
She said, "I'll have a bathful," to her milkman Jackie Wilke.
He said, "Do you want it pasturized before I pour it in?"
She said, "No, I'll be happy if it comes up to my chin."
Chorus
The farmer called at Lucy one dark and stormy night,
She said, "You are too old for me because your hair is white."
He looked into her eyes and then he knew he'd have to tell her,
"There's snow upon the roof but there's a fire in the cellar!"
Chorus
She took him in the kitchen, she was his turtle dove,
And then she started cooking dumplings on the stove.
She wore a low cut dress, oh it was as green as clover,
He jumped with glee 'cause he could see her dumplings boiling over.
Chorus
She said, "You give me half a crown I will read your palm,"
And then she saw his love line went half way up his arm.
So now she's changed her prices, although she's just as willing,
It's big fat men at two pound ten and little boys a shilling.
Oh, gather in the mushrooms, put 'em in a pot,
Pop 'em in the oven and serve 'em piping hot,
We're gonna gather in the mushrooms, put 'em in a pot,