Bathukamma

Bathukamma is unique festival in the Andhra Pradesh state of Indian subcontinent. This festival is commonly denoted with the term “the festival of flowers”. Usually it is celebrated through the active observance by the Telangana region’s Hindu women. This festival remains one of the key attractions in this state and is celebrated with ample fun. This festival is known in the region as a spring festival to worship Goddess Gauri whose followers are in the large numbers in whole Andhra Pradesh state. Worshippers are women as it denotes to worshipping women power.

History

According to the history of Bathukamma festival it is the grand celebration of nine days during the September to October months every year. This festival remains in practice since many centuries and has gained ample popularity in the whole region. The beginning of this festival is from Mahalaya Amavasya time and its ending come at Durgashtami time. That is why the festival has its causal relation with the Dasara festival as well in the exclusive south Indian style.

Mostly celebrated by women in the Telangana region of India’s Andhra Pradesh state, Bathukamma is an exclusive Hindu festival with active involvement of women for the sake of worshiping women power. Although it is a regional festival but it has the national value and is followed by another festival named Boddemma which is an engagement of total 7-days festival time with active involvement in worships and various types of activities.

The timing for this festival is fixed according to the Hindu lunar calendar of Ashvin or Aswiyuja month which usually falls under the September–October months every year. This festival has the national relevance due to association of the Bathukamma festival with the 9 days of Durga Navratri—another Hindu festival which is common one and very much practiced in almost all parts of the country.

Celebrations

Bathukamma celebrations wind up mere two days before the start of Durgashtami or Dusshera festival. The timing of these two festivals therefore remains a noticeable one with its starting on the Mahalaya Amavasya day. An attraction of this festival is the day of closing ceremony famously called Bathukamma panduga. The occasion which remains the center of attraction as a festival known as Pedda Bathukamma or Saddula Bathukamma well describe in the regional traditions.

Importance of Festival 

Bathukamma festival has its religious importance, social relevance and so is it a famous festival to promote the flowers. The attractions from the beautiful flower stack arrangement with the use of all flowers from the particular season make it an attractive one and noticeable for beautiful presentation. Social and cultural factors and values are truly mesmerizing indeed when the seven concentric layers of the decorated flowers give a shape of the cone of a potter to offer unique outlook while flower decoration and spirituality intermingles for a newer type of experience. This festival is as much socially enriched as is it spiritually inspiring.

As festival of Bathukamma is derived from the two important Telugu words Bathuku defining “life” and the rest part Amma describing “mother” this festival is therefore valued in a different perspective. It indeed remains a celebration of the mother’s glory—the symbolic Goddess Gauri Mother. Goddess is very much worshipped to define the womanhood for which Goddess is given such value. She is worshipped keenly due to her importance of being considered one of the dominating figures out of all the Goddesses that are dedicated to women power.

Bathukamma is an occasion while most Telugu women dress up in the pattu sarees that describe the traditional attires and dressing due to their significance during this festival. Women also wear the traditional jewelries during this occasion to mark the celebration of this inspiring festival to worship women power and flowers. The other attraction of this festival is distribution of Maleeda prasadam which is usually made from the jiggery. It is distributed at the end of this festival. It is another type of event that remains a truly attractive one to observe during this festival.

This festival is the dedication to worship womanhood and nature’s system through valuing the flowers. Its importance is paramount in the region. Equally has it gained popularity in rest part of India though celebrated exclusively in Andhra Pradesh.

Photo Gallery