Warangal:
The Bathukamma festival in Telangana is a unique and joyful celebration of culture and tradition. On Thursday, thousands of women gathered at the foothills of Padmakshi Hillock in Hanumakonda to celebrate the festival’s grand finale, called Saddula Bathukamma. They worshipped Goddess Durga Devi by singing and playing traditional songs, seeking her blessings.
The festival venue, located between hillocks, was filled with energy and excitement. Women dressed in beautiful traditional clothes and glittering jewelry carried Bathukammas, which are conical stacks made of seven layers of flowers. The women sang and danced to popular songs like “Rama Rama Rama Uyyalo” and the well-known “Bathukamma, Bathukamma Uyyalo,” filling the air with festive spirit.
Earlier, there was a concern about sudden rain showers possibly disrupting the event, but the clouds cleared quickly, much to everyone’s relief. Some people believe that light rain is a common occurrence on the last day of Bathukamma, almost as if the rain gods themselves are part of the celebration.
The nine-day Bathukamma festival, which began on Bhadrapada Amavasya (also known as Pethra Amavasya), ended on a high note with the Saddula Bathukamma finale. However, many people found it difficult to collect the traditional flowers used for making Bathukammas. These flowers include Gunugu (Celosia Argentea), Thangedu (Cassia Alata), Tamera (Indian Lotus), and Banti (Marigold), among others.
To ensure a smooth celebration, the local administration made special arrangements at the Padmakshi Temple, Ranga Leela Maidan in Warangal, and other lakes where women gathered to play Bathukamma.
