City of Charlotte Officially Recognises Bathukamma Festival, Declares Telangana Heritage Week

Hyderabad: In a remarkable recognition of Telangana’s rich cultural heritage, the City of Charlotte, North Carolina, USA, has officially acknowledged the festival of Bathukamma and declared a Telangana Heritage Week from October 3 to 11.

Charlotte Mayor Vi Alexander Lyles issued a proclamation highlighting Telangana’s long-standing cultural diversity, calling it a “bedrock of India’s pluralism and inclusiveness.” She noted that the state’s 5,000-year-old history showcases India’s arts, cultures, traditions, and religions. The proclamation also recognized the vibrant contributions of the Telugu-speaking community in North Carolina, particularly in fields such as medicine, engineering, politics, and culture.

Bathukamma, a nine-day floral festival celebrated with joy, family reunions, and traditional dances, was described as a celebration of the inherent relationship between humans, the earth, and water. The proclamation emphasized that the Telugu community from Telangana has enriched Charlotte’s cultural diversity and vitality through its many organizations and events.

The Global Telangana Association (GTA-Charlotte) shared the Mayor’s proclamation on social media, which commended the significant impact of the Telugu community and its contributions to North Carolina’s progress.

This is not the first time Charlotte has recognized the Telugu community. In May 2023, the city declared May 28 as Telugu Heritage Day, acknowledging Telugu as one of the world’s oldest surviving languages, dating back to the 10th century BCE, and designated as one of India’s six classical languages.