“Bonalu is just 15 days away, and work has slowly started picking up. Like every year, this is the time we begin making Thottelas—decorations made with bamboo sticks, colourful papers, and foil cuttings. Devotees tie them to neem trees or place them near temples as an offering to the Goddess during Bonalu.

I learnt this craft from my mother-in-law. Now, during the season, my children help me whenever they can—usually after school. We sit together and work on them, one piece at a time.

People from nearby areas come to Charminar to collect these for their homes and temples. Some ask for simple ones, while others want something more decorative.

For us, this isn’t just work—it’s part of our festival, our family, and something we look forward to every year.”