Bonalu Roju
Bonalu Day
Setting: Mahankali temple (Hyderabad / Telangana).
In English: Bonalu Day. A Lighted Tales original Telugu horror story, written in Romanized Telugu (Tenglish) with Telangana dialect.
Bonalu Day
2023 Ashadha masam , Telangana lo Bonalu season full swing ga. Aa year's Golconda Bonalu official ga June 26 Monday ki kickoff ga, aa tarwatha Hyderabad city-wide prathi Sunday veginti ni oka-oka area ki processions plan aipoyinayi. Lal Darwaza Mahankali temple's annual Bonalu jatara , traditional calendar prakaara Ashadha masam second Sunday , 2023 July 2 ki scheduled ga. Aa roju Old City lo traffic diversion, police bandobast, ghatam procession , aa all infrastructure morning 4 AM nunchi active ga. Aa area lo Bonalu stories oka-oka year oka-oka special category lo jaruguthuntayi , kaani 2023 Lal Darwaza lo oka specific family's first-time first-daughter Bonam carrying incident , aa year's temple pujari-circle lo a quiet reference ga mark aipoyindhi. Aa incident ni nenu aa temple's head archaka of that year , Narayana Deekshitulu (64, 1985 nunchi aa temple ki association , 2019 nunchi head archaka) tho 2024 May lo oka phone interview tho reconstruct chesaanu. Aayana permission tho name fictionalize cheyyadaaniki OK , family identity protect cheyyadaaniki full cooperation.
Harini , 19 years , B.Com second year , aa Lal Darwaza colony lo third-generation resident. Family , nanna Krishnakumar Rao (45, aa area lo a small provisions shop owner), amma Jayasri (43, homemaker), akka Deepika (22, Osmania University MBA final year), grandmother Ramaneekamma (81). Aayana ki aa year 2023 Bonalu oka specific milestone ga — 19 ayina tarwatha first-time ga Bonam ni own ga thala meeda carry chesi Mahankali amma vaari ki offer cheyyadam. Aa family tradition ga , first-daughter 19 ayyina year Bonam carry cheyyali , aa rule Harini's grandmother Ramaneekamma aakalu ga 40 years back nunchi set chesindhi. Deepika 2020 ki own Bonam complete chesindhi , aa year COVID restrictions tho private family-temple ga. Harini ki 2023 public festival context tho first experience.
Preparations , June last week nunchi active ga. Aa family lo Bonam ghatam — traditional ga a new clay pot (kumbham), rice-milk (payasam) tho filled, top lo oka flame lit, neem leaves garland , turmeric-paste + vermillion markings , aa setup Ramaneekamma own hand tho craft chesi Harini ki icchindhi. Bonam procession route , aa colony's rendering streets nunchi Lal Darwaza Mahankali temple gate varaku , distance approximately 1.2 km. Pothu-raju dance, teppotsavam-style drumming, entire community participation. Harini's specific slot , morning 7 AM devotee-wave ga, aayana mother Jayasri + aunt Sitaramamma accompanying.
Ramaneekamma: "Harini bujjibangaram, nee thaatagaru mee nanna patty gadi 1982 lo first time Bonam carry chesinaadu. Nee nanna 2002 , nee akka 2020. Ippudu nuvvu. Aa ghatam meeda niluvada meemula , Mahankali amma ni antaha karana pilustunte , aayana answer isthundhi. Goosebumps ki bhayapadaku. Aa goosebumps amma antaha vaalu touch ki."
Harini: "Amma, naaku voice control ga untada Bonalu aarti lo? Deepika akka ki 2020 lo chaala emotional ga , aayana own voice crack aipoyindhi , aayana 1 line sing cheyyaledu ani naaku cheppindhi. Naaku panic ga."
Ramaneekamma: "Amma ni devotion tho thalachu. Voice naturalga flow avuthundhi. Beach up kaaku."
2023 July 2 Sunday. Harini 4 AM ki lechi ghatam final preparation , rice-milk fresh ga chesi, new pot ki pour, top lo flame lit tho wick. Aa flame , a specific turmeric-soaked cotton wick , family's 1982 nunchi same style. 5 AM ki Harini, mother, aunt, grandmother, father all together a small home puja , Durga sukta chant, a family priest virtual phone darshan ga , aayana (family's long-associated priest Bhoodevi Sastry , 68, Kukatpally-based) tho video call. Ghatam thala meedha placing ceremony 6 AM ki home puja room lo , Ramaneekamma own chethula tho Harini thala meeda set chesindhi. Harini first few minutes wobbly ga , then balance found. Ghatam weight approximately 8 kg , thala base stabilizer cloth (a spiral-rolled towel ring) tho distributed.
Procession start 6:45 AM. Harini family's four women + father Krishnakumar escorting + relatives + neighbors approximately 40-person group. Drummers front , pothu-raju dance form two youth , temple-bound ga. Aa route lo prathi corner lo a small shrine , family touched each , flowers offered.
Temple gate ki 7:50 AM ki cherukunna , queue line lo approximately 30 other Bonam-carrier women already. Process , each devotee temple's sanctum sanctorum ki step-by-step ga , priest's personal aarti + Bonam acceptance + flame offering + mantra invocation.
Harini's turn , 8:22 AM.
Sanctum lo , head priest aa 2023 year's officiating , Narayana Deekshitulu. Aayana 30+ years aa amma vaari ki aarti practice. Aayana Harini ki normal process ga approach , ghatam accept cheyyadaaniki hands extended, Bonam flame temple's main lamp tho touched for energy transfer , mantra begins.
Aarti , traditional Mahankali aarti. Aayana first line chant chesindhi , Harini aa line ni repeat cheyyali as per custom , a devotee-priest call-response pattern.
Deekshitulu: "Jai Mahankali, Lal Darwaza amma vaaru, bhakta samrakshaki..."
Harini repeat cheyyadaaniki mouth thericchindhi.
Kaani aayana noru tho sound bayataki raavadam , aayana own voice matram kaadu. Aayana voice + another voice. Second voice , lower pitch, older, aayana sound ni overlap ga. Harini first shock ga, pause chesi, thala kadilinchi, ghatam wobbled , but stabilized. Repeat try chesindhi.
Harini: "Jai Mahankali, Lal Darwaza amma vaaru," aayana voice tone normal range lo.
Kaani aa voice , direct ga aayana chevulu inner lo , oka second voice overlay ga , echo-like kaadu , genuinely second-source ga , aayana own vocal sensation ki a physical presence. Harini panic started. Aayana chest area oka thick pressure ga , aayana heart beat counted 4 beats miss aipoyinaayi feeling.
→ Idey theme lo inka oka katha: Moolapu Illu
Deekshitulu stopped the mantra. Aayana direct ga Harini face ki chusaadu , a specific focused way.
Deekshitulu: "Ammayi, inko voice inner lo undhi naa?"
Harini silent ga nodded. Ghatam wobbling started visibly , aayana mother Jayasri side nunchi stepped in to stabilize. Deekshitulu hand raised ga , sanctum's other priests ki pause signal.
Deekshitulu: "Ammayi, listen. Inko voice tho overlap ga chant cheyyadaaniki try cheyyadu. Voice own ga match cheyyadam. Aa second voice maa amma vaari dwara , you are the chosen medium ippudu. Eppudu, chant cheyyadaaniki aa second voice tho coordination ga , single continuous flow ga , not fighting."
Harini: "Swami , naaku bhayamga undi. Nenu control cheyyaleku."
Deekshitulu: "Control thellaleku. Surrender cheyyali. Amma nee dwara ippudu speak cheyyadaaniki channel ichhindhi. Don't fight, merge. Aa aarti line inka repeat cheyyi, ippudu."
Harini breathe-control regained. Ghatam's flame steady. Aayana mouth thericchindhi , aa second voice ki deliberately yield ga. Aarti's first line again.
Harini: "Jai Mahankali, Lal Darwaza amma vaaru, bhakta samrakshaki..."
Aa line out ga , single voice ga , kaani Deekshitulu face lo a specific recognition ga — aayana hearing range lo own voice kaaku, Harini's voice ki second voice layered ga, matured tone, devotional depth tho. Aayana ga only priest lo aa overlap audible , standing 2 feet away. Harini's mother Jayasri + aunt Sitaramamma + grandmother Ramaneekamma + father Krishnakumar + rest of family outside sanctum , aayana standard ga Harini's voice matram ga hearing.
Deekshitulu aarti ni complete ga continued. 12-line chant. Harini each line ki aa second voice tho synced ga chanted. Sanctum ki other priests , they heard own voice level as standard chanting , aa overlap private-priest-and-devotee ga a specific layer.
Aarti completed 8:31 AM. Flame offering final step. Bonam accepted ga — ghatam priest ki transferred, rice-milk sanctum's traditional pour-ga , flame saucer lo placed.
Deekshitulu , final step as process ga , Harini ki a specific closing mantra mumbled, aayana head ki ashirwadam touch ga.
Deekshitulu: "Ammayi , nuvvu leave avvagane sanctum nunchi bayataki , 10 minutes temple outer courtyard lo silent ga sit cheyyi, then family ki vellaku. Naaku private ga meet cheyyali nuvvu, 30 minutes tarwatha priest-quarters lo."
Harini agreed ga.
9:10 AM , temple-quarters lo. Deekshitulu one other senior priest (Ramaswamiaiah Sastry, 72) tho Harini + aayana mother Jayasri tho meeting. Private conversation initiation.
Deekshitulu: "Jayasri ammayi, Harini, ee morning sanctum lo oka specific spiritual event jarigindhi. Standard Bonalu aarti lo , devotee-priest tho synced chant natural ga , kaani Harini's voice lo oka additional voice overlay , matured female voice tho , temple's amma vaari direct voice ga. Nenu 38 years priest career lo approximately 6 saarlu mathrame aa type of event direct ga witness chesaa. Idhi rare. Aa channel event oka message carry chesthundhi usually. Harini, nee any recent life situation oka specific decision point ki ga undhi naaa?"
Harini: silent ga 15 seconds. Then aayana mother vaipu look chesindhi, permission seeking. Jayasri slight nod.
Harini: "Swami, naa situation oka specific nijam tho related. Nenu ippudu B.Com second year, family lo 2024 summer lo a marriage alliance plan under discussion. Prospective groom , naa thaatagaru's village old connection family's son. Business , gold jewelry shop Dubai lo. Family financially comfortable, my parents enthusiastic. Nenu , aa groom tho 2 rounds met , aayana OK ga, kaani aayana gurinchi naaku oka specific nijam secretly teliusu , aayana family aayana ki oka prior engagement 2022 lo a Warangal girl tho break aipoyindhi , aa girl oka suicide attempt chesindhi post-breakup, hospital 3 weeks. Aa family aa matter ni full cover-up , my family ki aa background disclose kaaledu. Nenu aa girl tho direct ga contact chesaa oka Instagram DM dwara , aayana a full 2023 June letter lo aa events verify chesindhi. Naa family ki ee truth share cheyyaali, kaani naa nanna's business pressure , thaatagaru's commitment, marriage December fixed ga , nenu silence silence ga last one month ga struggle. Ee Bonam morning ki raavadam , naaku amma vaari oka direction icche chance ani pray chesaa."
Deekshitulu, Ramaswamiaiah silent ga listened.
Deekshitulu: "Ammayi, aa second voice ippudu clearly defined. Amma vaaru directly answered. Nuvvu family ki aa nijam raw ga share cheyyaali , this week within. Aa matter ni silence lo continue cheyyadam , nee future ki + aa groom's future ki + aa Warangal girl's future ki oka-oka tho injustice continuous ga. Marriage decision eppudu chesina OK , kaani aa decision full-truth ga undali."
Jayasri direct ga Harini ni hugged. Aayana eyes tears.
Jayasri: "Harini , ee morning sanctum lo Deekshitulu swami ki aa second voice vinipinchindhi ani vaadu cheppadam tho , naaku already mind clarify aipoyindhi. Nuvvu aa Warangal girl tho communication gurinchi naaku full ga cheppali , ippudu. Nee nanna ki nenu evening cheptha. Marriage , aa decision re-evaluate."
Aa morning's post-sanctum conversation 45 minutes , aa family's private. Deekshitulu + Ramaswamiaiah ki family confidential-share ga , aa priests aa information ni neutral-safe ga treat chesaaru , standard temple counseling confidentiality.
Harini aa evening own father ki direct ga conversation chesindhi. Initial resistance , then , her mother's coordinated backing tho , her father Krishnakumar silent ga absorb chesaaru. 48 hours lo family decision , aa groom's family ki formal withdrawal-communication ga , reason "our daughter's personal reflection + disclosed prior-engagement background context, full transparency requirement absent , alliance not proceeding." Aa groom family initially angry , then silent ga accepted , aa aalochana 2022 incident own culpability.
→ Pakkana ee story kuda chadavandi: Jatara Rathri
Harini 2024 ki B.Com complete. 2024 August nunchi a Hyderabad MNC lo a junior analyst role ga. 2026 varaku single ga, her own career path building. Marriage decision postponed indefinite ga.
Warangal girl (name withheld for privacy) , 2023-24 ki Harini tho cordial friendship formed, aa two young women mutual-support ga. Aa girl 2025 lo her own counseling completed, a different profession path initiated. Harini's Instagram ki aayana 2025 Bonalu season lo a direct message , "nee Bonam amma vaari naaku kuda ashirwadam chesindhi , thanks ga."
Lal Darwaza Mahankali temple lo aa specific 2023 July 2 morning's event , priest-circle lo a quiet reference ga preserved ga. Deekshitulu 2024 ki retire , successor priest ki temple's ritual memory handover lo aa event ni a anonymized case study ga briefly mention chesaaru , "Bonalu sanctum lo oka 19-year-old ki amma vaari direct voice-overlay event, personal decision-point redirection ga , family-supported resolution."
Harini aa year's experience ni her own reflection ga treat , "nenu aa morning Bonam ni carry chesaanu ani anukuni , actually aa Bonam nannu carry chesindhi. Sanctum lo aa second voice naa own voice ka kaadu, kaani aa voice naa own-ness ki closer. Am I nuvvu mundu nilabadi undi ga nijam ni face cheyyagalava? ani ask chesinattu , naa own answer , yes."
2024, 2025, 2026 Bonalu seasons , Harini each year Lal Darwaza ki visit , aayana own Bonam carry ga 2024 second-time, 2025 third-time , each year sanctum's main priest ki aayana face recognition ga. Aarti , ippudu single voice ga, own. Amma vaari's message once delivered, channel closed. Harini ki own internal voice clarify aipoyindhi.
Ramaneekamma grandmother 2025 lo 83 years age ki chanipoyaaru , peaceful ga home lo. Aayana last months lo Harini daily bedside conversation ga , each day's share Bonalu's second-voice memory ki reference tho. "Amma vaari message naaku channel ga , Harini ki direct ga. Thaatagaru 1982 time ki kuda aa temple lo a specific experience had , kaani aayana families ki cheppaledu secret ga death varaku. Nuvvu open ga , nee generation ka aa pattern change ga."
Author's note
Real-world context: Wikipedia — Telangana
Lal Darwaza Mahankali temple ki nenu 2022 + 2024 Bonalu seasons rendu saarlu velli vacchanu , Sanjana tho collective ga. Aa temple's energy genuinely palpable ga , Old City's traffic + festival's drum-beat tempo + devotees' collective ghatam procession , Hyderabad lo aa 3-4 weeks Ashadha masam a specific cultural density create cheyyadam. Priest-circle tho direct interviews nenu Sanjana's distant cousin (aayana Secunderabad Ujjaini Mahankali temple associated ga) dwara connections tho 2024 lo 4 separate priest conversations recorded ga. Aa interviews nunchi patterns ga — Bonalu-day sanctum lo devotees ki personal spiritual experiences frequently happen , kaani publicly rarely shared , priest-confidentiality + family-privacy ga. Aa 2023 specific case Deekshitulu swami (name fictionalized) permission tho family-identity protect ga narrate chesaanu. Bonam's traditional structure itself ga — head-balance, flame-at-center, community procession , a meditative demand on the devotee , aa intensity lo inner-voice surfaces cheyyadam possible. Mee family lo Bonalu tradition undaa? Own carry chesaara eppudaina? Comments lo share cheyyandi.
— Sai Kiran · Lighted Tales
© 2026 Sai Kiran Pandrala / Lighted Tales · https://teluguhorrorstories.blogspot.com
Original Telugu horror fiction. Folk-source material where referenced is public domain.
Modern characters, apartments, companies, and phone numbers are fictional.
Any resemblance to real persons, businesses, or events is coincidental.
Audio version: youtube.com/@Lightedtales
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