Bathukamma - Pride of Telangana

Bathukamma, a decorative festival celebrated by TELANGANA hindu women as per Telugu version of Hindu calendar in the Bhadrapada Amavasya occasionally in September?October of Gregorian calendar. The festival is celebrated for nine days during Durga Navratri.

It begins on the day of Amavasya and the 9-day festivities will terminate on "Saddula Bathukamma" festival, popularly known as Durgashtami which is two days before Dussehra. Bathukamma is followed by Boddemma, which is a 7-day festival.

Bathukamma represents cultural essence of Telangana. Bathukamma is a beautiful flower stack, arranged with different kind of seasonal flowers, in seven concentric layers in the shape of temple gopuram. In Telugu, 'Bathukamma' means 'Mother Goddess come Alive' and Goddess Maha Gauri - is worshipped in the form of Bathukamma.

It is the festival for female admiration. On this special occasion women dress up in the traditional sari also adding special jewellers and other accessories. Teenage Girls prefer to wear Lehenga-Oni which is likely Half-Sarees (or) else Gagra Choli combining it with jewels in order to bring out the traditional look.

For the nine days, in the evening, women, especially young girls, gather in large numbers with their Bathukammas in open areas of their locality.

All women will form a circle around the Bathukamma and start singing folk songs by clapping their hands and revolving round and round the Bathukamma, integrating steps and claps in accordance to provide a dazzling look to the festivities.

Women wish to seek good health, prosperity and happiness for their families. The songs are to invoke the blessings of various goddesses. By principle, the portrayal end with any one of the following three tributes

Uyyaala - ??????,

Chandamama - ??????

Gouramma - ??????.