Imagine a circle of women, dressed in vibrant sarees, clapping, and singing playful songs around a beautifully decorated elephant. This is Bhondla-a festival of joy, tradition, and togetherness.
Also known as Hadga or Bhulabai, Bhondla is a vibrant celebration in Maharashtra that brings women and girls together to sing, dance, and honor the spirit of community. Held during Navratri, it’s a time to reconnect with cultural heritage, share laughter, and create lasting memories.
The essence of bhondla: Why and when we celebrate
In earlier times, Bhondla was an essential celebration for women, providing a rare opportunity to take a break from their regular routines and spend time with friends and family.
Also, married women would come back to their mother’s house and would get a chance to get together with their childhood friends during the celebrations.
Bhondla begins from the first day of Navaratri and it is celebrated till Kojagiri Purnima. Like other Indian festivals bhondla is connected to nature and is celebrated after the rains of Hasta Nakshatra which brings good harvests.
Circle of joy: How bhondla celebrates unity and tradition
Women and girls come together to celebrate Bhondla. They form a circle around a statue or rangoli of an elephant. As they move in a circle, they sing cheerful songs. These songs often talk about everyday activities and chores that women used to do at home in the past.
Here’s the funniest part of the ritual: the songs; even though they had a monotonous tune, the girls could gently tease their in-laws. The singing and dancing were followed by recognizing the food item brought by every girl. This was their chance for good nourishment.
The Elephant in Bhondla: A celestial connection
The elephant in Bhondla holds cultural and symbolic significance in the festival.
Fig. 2: Elephant in bhondla
For Bhondla, a picture of an elephant is drawn on a paat or a flat wooden seat and it is adorned with flowers. The elephant is not just a decoration—it indicates the celestial Hasta Nakshatra, which rises in the sky during Navaratri, making it a sacred and auspicious figure in the festival.
Young girls of ten – twelve years hold hands and create a circle around this wooden seat and sing the traditional Bhondla songs.
Bhondla: A fading Maharashtrian tradition
Bhondla used to be a yearly tradition celebrated in homes across Maharashtra, even after girls stopped getting married so young. Nowadays, it’s rare to see girls participating in all the days of the celebration. Some still try to keep the tradition alive by hosting gatherings on certain days.
The songs and messages of Bhondla have not remained relevant for modern women. Now, it mainly serves as an opportunity for communities away from home to come together and celebrate their common culture.
Originally, Bhondla aimed to support young women who married early, but that purpose no longer applies. May be as a newer generation of Maharashtrians, we can make it relatable to us and our lives as they are today.
