Telangana’s vibrant floral festival, Bathukamma, began on Sunday, with large numbers of women participating across the state. As the state’s official festival, it is celebrated both locally and internationally. Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan hosted a Bathukamma event at Raj Bhavan, where she interacted with women from diverse backgrounds.
Ministers, MPs, and other officials took part in celebrations held across Telangana. Panchayat Raj Minister Dayakar Rao participated in the Warangal festivities alongside hundreds of schoolgirls.
About Bathukamma:
Bathukamma is a nine-day festival celebrated during Dussehra to honor the Goddess of Life, Bathukamma. Women decorate a pot with seasonal flowers, make offerings to the goddess, and immerse the flower pot in local ponds after a vibrant procession. The festival runs from October 14 to October 22, 2024, with the grand celebration of Saddula Bathukamma on the final day.
During the festival, women sing and dance around floral arrangements, with the flowers eventually immersed in ponds to conclude the festivities. The 2024 Bathukamma festival will take place from October 1 to October 9, coinciding with the filling of ponds due to monsoon rains.
Celebrating Bathukamma:
Women arrange flowers in seven concentric circles resembling temple gopurams, believed to please the goddess. The celebration involves wearing beautiful attire, decorating courtyards, and making offerings like dosa, rice dishes, and jaggery-based items across the nine days.
Significance:
Bathukamma has been celebrated as the official state festival since Telangana’s formation in 2014. It is a tribute to nature and Telangana’s rich cultural heritage, symbolizing women’s self-respect and unity. Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao and his daughter, legislator K. Kavitha, continue to promote the festival, with initiatives like distributing sarees to one crore women. Bathukamma celebrations also extend globally, with Kavitha’s Telangana Jagruthi organizing events in eight countries.