Villages in Telangana witness revival of Bodrai
festival
C R Gowri Shanker| Published: 17th May 2023 8:25 pm IST
And it’s catching up fast with many villages installing Bodrai in their
villages and villagers in their best participating in the almost forgotten
culture.
For a layman, Bodrai (stone
pillar) is the first stone installed before a settlement starts in a village or
any other place. Bodrai, the auspicious stone, is installed by various
castes/communities in their respective places before the actual construction of
dwellings begin. It is also called “Nabi Sila” Pratishtanam (consecration ceremony).
It is more than the
foundation stone since it is worshipped by the villagers and settlement
dwellers all through their stay on all occasions.
For some “Bodrai” is incarnation of “Shakti”, Goddess Kali, some relate it to “Nabi” (navel) and rai (stone), the navel in the middle of the body.
Kondurg Mandal in Ranga Reddy in Telangana State, about 60 km from Hyderabad and 20 km from Shadnagar, saw the revival of this ancient culture wherein five new Bodrais were installed amidst religious fervour and gaiety by the villagers.
The recent three-day
festivities were attended by hundreds of people from the mandal and outside,
culminating into Bonalu offerings to the Bodrai and village deities.
According to a village
elder, 82-year-old Patel Rajalingam, the new Bodrais’ were installed after a
gap of nearly 150 years.
“Our elders used to talk about Bodrais in Kondurg village. Old Bodrais were
gone with the time. Mandal elders and leaders decided to reinstall the lost
Bodrais inside Kondurg once again. The response from the people was tremendous.
Kondurg village which used to be spread over about 29 acres in the past has now
increased manifold due to spurt in population,” he says.
Anuradha Reddy of INTACH
explains, “Bodrai panduga is an age-old festival. Bodrai literally means the
first stone before a settlement starts or constructed. It is revered and locals
offer pujas on various occasions. It’s part of the town planning. It’s good to
see its revival in Telangana.”
Kondurg mandal turned
festive as hundreds of people from all the villages irrespective of caste and
creed joined the Bodrai installation ceremony amidst fanfare.
All the major temples in
the mandal were tastefully decorated and villagers offered Bonalu Gods and
Goddesses.
The especially made five Bodrais (black granite stones) were brought from Allagadda in Kurnool District of Rayalseema region in Andhra Pradesh which is famous for the black stone and rulers like Mourya, Satavahana, Chalukya, Cholas and Pallava.
The Bodrais were placed at a place and after performing pujas, they were installed at the select places in the village.
Jangam Rajeshwar, the
priest who guided the Bodrai festival in Kondurg Mandal says the Bodrais were
revived after a gap of nearly 150 years.
“We heard about existence
of Bodrai in our village from senior citizens since long and its importance. It
is believed Bodrai protects the people from diseases and brings prosperity,
happiness to them. Every newlywed couple pray to Bodrai before entering their
homes. In fact, Bodrai is sacred place for marriage, death or any other
occasion where people offer prayers. They are installed in the middle of the
villages,” he explains.
On the last day of the
Bodrai Panduga, 4800 Bonalus were taken out from different localities in the
village to various village deities.
Bonam means meals in
Telugu, an offering to Mother Goddess. Women prepare rice cooked along with
milk, jaggery in an earthen pot or brass pot, adorned with Neem leaves,
turmeric and vermillion. Women carry the pot and offer Bonam to the Goddess
Kali in various forms including Maisamma, Pochamma, Yellamma, Dokkalamma,
Peddamma, Poleramma, Ankalamma, Maremma, Nookalamma and other Kali avatars.
Bodrai revival festival
reflected Mahankali Jatra wherein women carried Bonalu led by Potharajus to the
place of Bodrai in processions from various localities of the Kondurg mandal.
Despite modernisation, the
caste system is openly reflected in the festivities held in Kondurg Mandal with
women and men from different caste-based settlements taking out Bonalu
separately.
Bonalus were taken out from
Mudiraj, Scheduled Castes, Boya (fishermen), Gowda/Kurma, Balija and other
communities in the mandal.
Women and men offered
prayers to village deities or grama devatas Maisamma, Pochamma, Eedamma,
Yellamma, Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple, Pancha Lingeshwara Swamy temple,
Hanuman Temple and others temples.
Barring Christians, all the
communities including Muslims participated in the festival, according to
Rajeshwar.
Shadnagar MLA Anjaiah
Yelganamoni, Kondurg Sarpanch Adi Lakshmi Yadaiah, Vice MPP Rajesh Patel, Esari
Satyam, Karukonda Yadagiri, Cheelam Lingam and other mandal leaders from all
political parties and activists coordinated the festival.
With general elections this
year, the festivities are getting a political colour too with all parties and
leaders supporting it.
Unlike other festivals, the
priests put strict conditions on villagers for the three-day festivities in
Kondurg. The conditions include, participation of people in pujas without fail,
remaining in the village, attend pujas in traditional dress, bring in puja
items like flowers, fruits, milk, coconuts etc., households should invite their
daughters and other women folk for the festival and present saree/blouse, if
possible, keep the homes clean and tidy etc. Pregnant women were barred from
participating in the festivities.
Bodrai revival is now the trend in Telangana villages!
More photos from festival in Kondurg village:
The 5 Bodrais installed in the village
Potharajus dancing to lilting music
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