Everything About Telangana’s Beautiful Festival, 'Bathukamma'

While the world celebrated Navratri, Telangana state has another important festival to observe. Bathukamma being one of the most significant and historic festivals in the Telangana culture, has a lot to it that is to be known and appreciated. Chai Bisket wishes all those celebrating this colorful festival, Bathukamma subhakankshalu! Here’s what you need to know about the floral festival.

THE LEGENDS

Goddess Gauri after a fierce fight killed ‘Mahishasura’ the demon, went into deep sleep due to fatigue on the ‘Aswayuja Padyami’ day. The prayers and devotion are meant for her to wake up. It is to be noted that she woke up on the Dasami day.

Source: dollsofIndia

There was a king named Dharmangada and a queen named Satyavati belonging to Chola Dynasty. They lost their hundred sons in the war front. Goddess Lakshmi heard and obliged to their prayer of being born as their daughter. The pundits of the royal palace named her Bathukamma or live forever.

Source: The Hindu

Parvathi or Bathakamma is an ardent lover of flowers. The Bathukamma deity looks like the shape of a temple tower or ‘Gopura’. On top of the flowers, a lump of turmeric is kept. The worship of Goddess Batakamma is done with this little floral is mountain.

Source: explore Tel

Bathukamma means ‘come back to life mother’ and it is an asking for Goddess Sati to return. Legend has it that Sati returned as Goddess Parvati and therefore the festival is also dedicated to Goddess Parvati.

THE RITUAL

All women 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.

Source: telanganatalkies

The songs are to invoke the blessings of various goddesses. By principle, the rendition end with any one of the following three tributes Uyyaala,Chandamama or Gouramma.

Bathukamma comes during the latter half of monsoon. The monsoon rains usually brings wild flowers blooming in the uncultivated and barren plains of the region. Thus, the flower festival.

Source: The Hindu

Each day has a name mainly signifying the type of “naivedyam” (food offering) offered. Most of the naivedyam (food offering) offered are very simple to prepare.

Source: home style recipes

THE SPECIALITY

Bathukamma is considered one of the State festivals of Telangana.
And also is known as Telangana’s floral festival.

Source: Wiki

Batukamma celebrates the inherent relationship between earth, water and the human beings.

Source: mana telangana garjana

The songs that are sung during the festival all hold deeper meaning in terms of women and their lives while associating them with the deity and the flowers in the celebration.

Source: newsonair

The flowers used in Batukamma have a great quality of purifying water and such flowers when immersed in abundance into the pond have the effect of cleansing the water and making the environment much better.