Hyderabad: Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Minister Seethakka has emphasized the importance of preserving the culture of Bathukamma, a unique festival that celebrates nature, for future generations.
Speaking as the chief guest at a Bathukamma festival organized by employee unions at Osmania University on Saturday, Seethakka noted that modern society has moved far from its natural roots. She highlighted the significance of this festival in reminding people of Telangana’s deep connection with nature.
Seethakka explained that Bathukamma demonstrates how the people of Telangana have long worshipped flowers, trees, grass, and water. She pointed out that on the final day of the festival, the immersion of flowers into water not only has cultural importance but also helps purify the water, as the flowers used are believed to have natural medicinal properties.
The minister stressed that every tradition in Telangana has scientific reasoning behind it. She also took the opportunity to congratulate the women employees of Osmania University for their participation in the event.
Osmania University Registrar, Prof. P. Lakshminarayana, expressed pride in having Seethakka, a symbol of struggle from the Telangana region, attend and participate in the Bathukamma festival at the university.
Other officials, including Professor Redyanaik, UGC Dean Prof. G. Mallesham, and OU NGO Association President Gnaneshwar, congratulated the women employees and the university unions for organizing the event annually. Gnaneshwar also requested that Minister Seethakka address some of the issues faced by the university employees.
The celebration saw participation from various faculty members, including the Dean of the Faculty of Law, Vijayalakshmi, Professor Lavanya, union leaders, women professors, and both teaching and non-teaching staff, who all joined in playing Bathukamma.
