“Throughout my childhood, the nine days of Bathukamma were the happiest time of the year in our hometown, Siddipet. I would wait for this festival month with excitement every single year.
It was all about family, meeting cousins and relatives, sharing meals, dancing, and taking part in the traditions. We even had friendly competitions to see whose Bathukamma looked the most beautiful in size, colours, and design.
Every morning, we woke up before sunrise, dressed in our traditional clothes, and performed the puja before even sipping a drop of water. The whole house filled with the fragrance of flowers as we decorated and prepared the Bathukamma. The evening immersion was always memorable. All of us would gather and walk to the nearest water body carrying our flower arrangements. My grandmother, along with other elders, sang the traditional Bathukamma songs, their voices carrying a devotion that felt sacred and calming.
There are many stories behind Bathukamma, but what I learnt while growing up is that the festival is a prayer for the well-being of our families, womanhood, nature, and a celebration of togetherness. Beyond the rituals, it strengthens the bond between people and nature.
The festival is known for its seasonal flowers. We used Tangidi, Gunugu, Chamanthi, Banthi, Gummadi Puvvu, Tangedu, Katla Puvvu, Ganneru, and other local wild blooms gathered from fields and gardens. Their colours and fragrance make every Bathukamma vibrant and distinctive.
Over the years, even as many of us moved to the cities, we continued to celebrate Bathukamma at home, keeping the tradition alive.
Today is Saddula Bathukamma, the final day of the festival. By evening, neighbours and friends gather with their families, carrying their Bathukammas in a colourful procession before immersing them in the lake. Every year, these celebrations remind us of the values of family, friendship, and respect for nature.
I hope future generations will continue to celebrate Bathukamma with the same devotion that our elders have passed on to us.”
– Sirisha Babburi, Telangana’s First Line Woman
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