Celebrate Bathukamma: The Floral Festival of Telangana

Bathukamma is celebrated by the Hindu women of Telangana. This festival is celebrated as per Shalivahana calendar for nine days every year during Durga Navratri. It starts from Bhadrapada Amavasya and goes till Durgashtami, usually celebrated in September – October of Gregorian calendar.

Soon after Bathukamma, people celebrate Boddemma which is a 7-day festival. Bathukamma festival marks the beginning of Sarad or Sharath Ruthu. The cultural spirit of Telangana is represented in the form of this festival. The festival is a beautiful flower stack, arranged by using different unique seasonal flowers. Most of the flowers hold medicinal values and these are arranged in seven concentric layers in the design of temple gopuram. The word means ‘Mother Goddess come Alive’ in Telugu. Goddess Maha Gauri – ‘Life Giver’ is worshipped in the form of Bathukamma. Maha Gauri Devi is the patron goddess of womanhood.

It is celebrated in some cities of Andhra Pradesh like Vijayawada and Vizag. Women wear traditional sari along with jewels and get themselves ready for the festival.

By: Bhavna Sharma

Content: en.wikipedia.org