A month-long folk festival in Hyderabad, celebrated around July and August
Traditional Hindu festival dedicated to Mahakali, the goddess of destruction
A festival to convey gratitude to the goddess for fulfilling vows
Telangana began to celebrate Bonalu after surviving a bubonic plague in 1813
Devotees believe the goddess drove away the pestilence
Pilgrims celebrate at the temple at Golconda fort
Women carrying offering ‘Bonam’ are considered as possessing spirit of goddess
Men impersonate as ‘Pothuraju’, Kali’s brother and dance for the drum beats