The Telugu
month of Ashadam has commenced on 20th June 2012 and with that; the month-long
festivities of Bonalu have started on 22nd June, in the Twin Cities of
Hyderabad and Secunderabad. The most prominent of these festivities, the
Ujjaini Mahankali Jatara at Secunderabad, also known as Bonalu festival or
Lashkar Bonalu is on 8th and 9th July. I have earlier posted two detailed
articles with many photographs on these festivities, which you may reach by
clicking on the following links:
Ghatothsavam
is an important ritual of this festival, followed at all the Temples of
Mahankali and her sisters Pochamma, Mysamma, Yellamma, Poleramma, Dokkalamma
and Peddamma. Ghatam is a Copper Pot decorated in the form of the Goddess with
fine clothing and flowers. The Ghatam of the Ujjaini Mahankali Temple is
decorated at Karbala Maidan on the banks of Hussain Sagar on the first Sunday
of Ashada Masam and brought in a procession to the accompaniment of Mangala
Vaidhyam and kept at the Temple at General Bazaar. This ritual is called
Ghatothsavam and is carried out at all Temples of the Goddesses mentioned
above. Starting from the next day, every day the decorated Ghatam is carried by
a priest smeared in turmeric, to the accompaniment of band and Mangala Vaidhyam
to every house in the adjoining streets and localities. This is to ward off all
evil and illness in these areas and to facilitate Darshan and blessings of the
Goddess to everyone at their doorsteps. At the end of the festivities, the
Ghatam is immersed in water at the nearest lake.
The above
pictures are of Pochamma Devi Ghatam at our house today. Pochamma Temple is
close to our house at Somasundaram Street and the Ghatam is brought to our
house once every year, since decades. In the above pictures, you will notice
that the tired priest is taking a break and his assistant is carrying the
Ghatam!
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