Bathukamma
is Telangana's floral festival celebrated by the Hindu women of Telangana
Region of Andhra Pradesh state. Every year this festival is celebrated in the
Bhadrapada Amavasya/ Mahalaya Amavasya in the month of September or October of
Gregorian calendar.
Bathukamma
is a beautiful flower stack, arranged with different unique seasonal flowers
most of them with medicinal values, in seven concentric layers in the shape of
temple gopuram.
In
Telugu, ‘Bathukamma' means ‘Mother Goddess come Alive’ and Goddess Maha
Gauri-‘Life Giver’ is worshipped in the form of Bathukamma – the patron goddess
of womanhood, Maha Gauri Devi
The festival for feminine felicitation is celebrated for nine days during Durga Navratri. It starts on the day of Mahalaya Amavasya and the 9-day festivities will culminate on "Saddula Bathukamma" or "Pedda Bathukamma" festival on Ashwayuja Ashtami, popularly known as Durgashtami which is two days before Dussehra. Bathukamma festival indicates the beginning of Sarad or Sharath Ruthu.
On this special occasion women dress up in the traditional sari combining it with jewels and other accessories in order to bring out the traditional grace of the attire.
In the evenings women gather in large numbers with their Bathukammas in open areas of their locality will form a circle around the Bathukamma and start singing folk songs by clapping their hands and revolving around the Bathukamma, synchronizing steps and claps in unison provide a splendorous look to the festivities. Women seek good health, prosperity and happiness for their families. The songs are to invoke the blessings of various goddesses.
Each day a very simple and tasty "naivedyam is offered.
Pictures clicked by Sister's friend Padma
