"Bonalu" Festival — Historical Background and Shariah Perspective By: Mohsin Ehsan Rahmani "Bonalu" is a famous Hindu festival celebrated in the state of Telangana, especially in Hyderabad and Secunderabad. This word is derived from the Telugu word "Banam", which means a feast or an offering. In this festival, women carry offerings such as cooked rice, yogurt, sugar, and coconut decorated in clay or copper pots to temples to please their goddess "Mahankali" (Kali Mata). Historical Background: With reference to Telangana history, it is written that in 1869, a severe epidemic broke out in Hyderabad. The local people formed a belief that this epidemic was due to the wrath of "Goddess Mahankali". Therefore, a vow was made to get rid of the epidemic that if the goddess's anger subsided, offerings of food would be made. When the epidemic ended, this custom became prevalent as a festival. (Reference: A History of Telangana — P.V. Parabrahma Sastry) This festival is usually celebrated in the month of Ashada, i.e., in July during the rainy season after the peak of summer. On this occasion, processions, drums, local folk dances, and religious songs are arranged. A young man named "Pothuraju", carrying a sword and a whip, leads the procession. The Role of Pothuraju: In this Bonalu festival, a traditional religious character named Pothuraju is particularly associated with the regions of Telangana and Maharashtra. These are people from the poor or lower class of the society who dedicate their lives especially to the service of Hindu goddesses. These people wander around wearing yellow turbans, colorful clothes, painted bodies, holding a whip and a drum, whipping themselves and dancing. Their job is to perform goddess worship, Jagran (staying awake all night for worship), and collecting offerings. They inflict wounds on their bodies by whipping themselves—this is also considered as "Tapasya" (penance). Kali Mata or Mahankali: Mahankali means extremely powerful, the destroyer of all evils, the mother of all powers (shaktis). She is considered to be the greatest goddess especially in terms of power. The Nature of Bonalu: "Bonalu" is basically a festival of worship, vows, and offerings to Goddess Mahankali (Kali Mata). Its purpose is to seek the pleasure of the goddess to escape diseases, calamities, and epidemics. The Shariah Status of Rituals like Bonalu: In Islam, worship, offerings (Nazr-o-Niyaz), and supplication (Dua) are exclusive to Allah alone. The Quran says: "And they were not commanded except to worship Allah, [being] sincere to Him in religion." (Al-Bayyinah: 5) Making offerings, supplications, or vows in the name of anyone other than Allah is Shirk-e-Akbar (major shirk). Allah Almighty says: "Indeed, Allah does not forgive association with Him." (An-Nisa: 48) Offering food, making supplications, and performing rituals for pleasure in the name of someone other than Allah (Goddess Mahankali) in Bonalu is clear Shirk. The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: "Whoever imitates a nation is one of them." (Sunan Abi Dawud: 4031) Allah says: "Indeed, he who associates others with Allah - Allah has forbidden him Paradise." (Surah Al-Ma'idah: 72) The Ruling on Nazr-o-Niyaz (Offerings): Vows (Nazr) are only for Allah. It is stated in the Holy Quran: "He has only forbidden to you dead animals, blood, the flesh of swine, and that which has been dedicated to other than Allah." [Al-Baqarah: 173] Under this verse, Hazrat Mufti Muhammad Shafi Usmani (Rahimahullah) writes: "Here is a fourth case which relates to things other than animals, such as sweets, food, etc., which Hindu people offer to idols as vows (Nazr) and ignorant Muslims offer at the shrines of saints. The jurists have declared this also as haram by placing it under the ruling of 'what has been dedicated to other than Allah' due to the common cause, i.e., seeking proximity to other than Allah, and they have declared its eating, drinking, feeding to others, buying, and selling all as haram." Hadith: "Whoever vows to obey Allah, let him obey Him, and whoever vows to disobey Him, let him not disobey Him." (Sahih Al-Bukhari: 6696) Fatwa of Darul Uloom Deoband: Participating in the religious affairs of non-Muslims is impermissible and haram; it is absolutely not permissible to do such things even due to mutual relations or pressure. The command of the Holy Quran is: "And do not incline toward those who do wrong, lest you be touched by the Fire," meaning O Muslims! Do not incline toward the wrongdoers (disbelievers) (by participating or imitating their religious affairs or conditions and actions), lest the fire of Hell touches you. When there is a danger of going to Hell due to a slight inclination and imitation, then how severe a crime would it be to perform blasphemous and polytheistic acts and religious rituals, as a result of which losing faith and being included in the group of infidelity is not far-fetched. (Allah forbid, dancing, clapping, singing songs) All this is the way of others, and Islam strictly condemns it. May Allah protect Muslims from being involved in this sin. Ameen. 24th Muharram-ul-Haram 1447 AH, Sunday 20th July 2025
