Hyderabad: “When sins are growing how can there be rains?”, asked Swarnalatha, a wide-eyed woman, who was covered in turmeric paste.
She was in a so-called trance and making a forecast for the year ahead as part of the customary “Rangam” (looking in to the future) tradition that is an important element of the annual Bonalu festival at the Ujjaini Mahankali temple in Secunderabad on Monday.
As thousands of devotees thronged the temple, Swarnalatha said that the selfishness of leaders was adding to the woes of the people. “The leaders should work with spirit of service and sacrifice, but they are drenched in selfishness. They are looting the wealth of the state and even of the temples,” she said.
According to devotees of the temple, an unmarried young woman takes part in the ritual every year; she becomes possessed by the deity of the temple and it speaks through her. “How is any good possible if leaders behave like this,” she said, warning that leaders should aim to serve people better. “Rouges should make amends and reform themselves”, she said.
Bonalu is one of the major folk festivals of Telangana, and celebrated with a lot of pomp and gaiety all over the region.
