Bathukamma is a colourful floral festival of Telangana and is celebrated by women folk with exotic flowers of the region. An embodiment of the spirit of Telangana, the festival has become an important part of the cultural renaissance movement of Telangana and has now been accorded the State Festival status in the newly formed state.

Legends associated with Bathukamma festival are related to a princess of Chola dynasty who survived many misfortunes and was named Bathuku or life, and amma meaning mother. The other legends associated with Bathukamma are related to Sati the first wife of Shiva and Bathukamma is to pray to her to return. It is believed that Sati later returned as Goddess Parvati and the festival is also dedicated to Goddess Parvati.  According to another myth Ma Gauri killed ‘Mahishasura or the Buffalo faced Demon after a fierce fight. After the battle the goddess went to sleep on the ‘Aswayuja Padyami’, as she was tired, so her devotees prayed to her to wake up and finally she woke up on the festival of Dasami.

Irrespective of what the belief, Bathukamma is celebrated in similar fashion in both rural as well as cities of Telangana. The festival is a visual treat to one’s eyes with saree clad women in a variety of weaves and colors carrying the elaborate colorful flower arrangement on their heads.The mouth-watering savouries prepared during all ten days of the celebrations add to its beauty.

It is believed that Bathukamma loved flowers so the girls and women of each family make elaborate floral arrangements on a square bamboo basket that taper to the top and resemble a temple Gopuram. The festival of Bathukamma begins from home, with women and girls of the family making the Bathukamma, then they all gather in the common area of the locality and pray to the goddess singing devotional songs in praise of the mother goddess and her various forms.

Bathukamma is not just a celebration of beautiful colors and flowers to worship the mother goddess, it is also passing of traditional wisdom to the next generation. A great occasion to meet and greet neighbors, women of Telangana get together for the occasion and compliment each other’s jewelry, sarees and of course Bathukamma.

Some of the colorful weaves flaunted by women for the occasion is the ones weaved in the state. Some of the popular handloom sarees from Telangana are Pochampally sarees, Gadwal sarees and Narayanpet sarees. You can find a wide range of these weaves at the best available prices along with additional festive discounts.

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