Telangana: Bathukamma, floral festival begins across state.

• In Telangana, Bathukamma, the state floral festival has begun with women in large numbers participating in the festivities across the state.
• The dates of this festival clash with Navratri in North India with the first day of Bathukamma 2022 falling on September 25.
• This festival will deepen our connect with nature and interest in flowers.
• The main celebrations will be held on 3rd next month which will be celebrated as Saddula Bathukamma.
• During the nine-day annual festival, women and girls sing and dance around specially arranged flowers. At the end of the festival, the floral arrangements will be immersed in local ponds.

About Bathukamma:

• Bathukamma, a floral festival representing the culture and spirit of Telangana, is celebrated for nine days during Navratri.
• The word Bathukamma comes from the Telugu words “Bathuku” meaning life and “Amma” meaning mother.
• As such, it is a celebration of life and womanhood. During the festival, the women come together in groups to prepare ornate stacks using local flowers such as Celosia, Senna, Marigold, Lotus, Cucurbita and Cucumis among others.
• This stack is called a Bathukamma and represents Goddess Maha Gauri and is worshipped for nine days.
• On the final day of the festival, Bathukamma is immersed in water bodies. Bathukamma was declared a state festival after the formation of Telangana in 2014.