Hyderabad: Bathukamma festival, the state festival of Telangana, will commence in the region on Wednesday. A festival of flowers, Bathuakamma means 'Mother Goddess come alive' and the festival represents the cultural spirit of Telangana. Dedicated to Goddess Gowri, the festival mythologically meant to celebrate life and thank Goddess Parvati. A spring festival too, it is celebrated to thank the Goddess for the good harvest and beseech her blessings for the next year crop as well.
Every year, the festival is celebrated for nine days starting from Mahalaya Amavasya till Durgashtami. The festival also indicates the beginning of Sharath Ruthu. As per the Telugu calendar, Mahalaya Amavasya happens on Oct. 6.
A festival of womanhood, married daughters return to their homes for Bathukamma celebrations. Unmarried daughters staying away from home for study or jobs also return to their parents during this time.
The highlight of Bathukamma is the flower stacks prepared at home. Men go out early morning to collect flowers for their women. Women of the household join together to make the flower stack. The flower stacks are made like a temple tower and Goddess Gowri, a symbolic idol made using turmeric, is seated on top completes Bathukamma.
Bathukammas (the flower stacks) are placed in a common place where women folk dance around it. At the end of the day, Bathukammas are immersed in the temple ponds. Naivedhyam (food) prepared for the Goddess is distributed among the women and children. The process continues for nine days.
Nine days of celebrations are called as Engili pula Bathukamma, Atkula Bathukamma, Muddapappu Bathukamma, Nanabiyyam Bathukamma, Atla Bathukamma, Aligina Bathukamma, Vepakayala Bathukamma, Vennamuddala Bathukamma and Saddula Bathukamma. The food offering to Bathukamma changes each day and the sixth day is void of celebrations and no food offering is presented to the Goddess.
Bathukamma is a women festival. Women dress up in traditional attire like sarees and half sarees and other traditional dresses and adorn themselves with jewels and flowers. The festival reflects Telangana culture.
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