Bathukamma
celebrates aspirations of women in Telangana
By Guest Contributor| Updated: 8th October 2021 9:22 pm IST
(File photo)
TRS MP Kavita during Bathukamma festival at Bhongir in Nalgonda district. (Photo: PTI )
By C R Gowri Shanker
Hyderabad: Bathukamma is back and Hyderabad besides other
parts of the State is rocking with festivities.
From court yards, streets and opens paces in village, towns and cities to an array of housing societies, are reverberating with ‘Bathukamma Bathukamma Uyyallo…” songs while Durga and other Shakti peethas are tastefully decorated.
Bathukamma songs and dances are famous in
Jogipet in Sangareddy District, Warangal, Karimnagar, Hyderabad and other
places. In Hyderabad, Bathukamma and Dandiya go hand in hand, especially among
the youth.
Bathukamma means “Mother Goddess comes alive.‘ It’s a spring festival of Goddess Gauri, one of the names of Goddess Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva and mother of Lord Ganesh. It also symbolizes the patron of Goddess womanhood.
Though the festival has adopted modern DJ, lavish settings, the traditional song and dance continues.
Bathukamma
festival represents the cultural spirit of Telangana, where women attired in
their best sing, clap and dance in a traditional rhythmic pattern in circles
around the flower decked “Bathukamma” for nine days (Navarathri).
In fact, it’s a community festival that brings
all sections of women irrespective of caste and creed at one place for nine
days. Men help women by bringing flowers and immerse them in ponds in the
evenings after the dance rituals.
Bathukamma is a nine-day festival beginning
Mahalaya Amavasya till Durgashtami, as per Sathavahana calendar and as per
Gregorian calendar in September–October. This year the festival is
celebrated from October 6 to 14.
During the festival, women seek prosperity,
happiness, good health for themselves and their families besides unmarried
women hope of a good spouse. They invoke the blessings of Goddesses.
The festival, a symbol of Telangana culture and
identity like Bonalu, got a big push after the formation of Telangana State on
June 2, 2014.
Though there are different stories on the origin
of the festival, but it is linked to nature.
It is celebrated to thank and worship Goddess
Parvati for the abundance of crops during the harvest and prosperity besides
seeking bountiful harvest.
Bathukamma heralds the beauty of vibrant nature
in multitudinous flowers, crops and fruits even as ponds and other water bodies
are full to brim during the season.
The festival begins a week before the ‘Saddula
Bathukamma’ (the grand finale of the Bathukamma festival) which falls two days
before Dassera. Married women come to parents homes to celebrate the festival
of flowers.
Busy all through the day, the womenfolk make
Bathukammas, place them in court yard or open spaces in the evening, sing and
dance rendering “Bathukamma…Bathukamma Uyyalo….songs in traditional attire and
later immerse them in nearby ponds.
In the concrete jungle of cities and where there
are no ponds and water bodies, women immerse in bucket full of water.
Arranging flowers for Bathukamma is an art in
itself and perfected by most women over the years. Flowers are arranged in
layers in a Taambalam (brass plate) in different colours and made into
different sizes depending on their desire.
Commonly used flowers for Bathukamma are Gunugu puvvu
(celosia), Thangedu puvvu (Cassia auriculata), Banti Puvvu (Marigold),
Chamanthi puvvu (Chrysanthemum), Gummadi Puvvuv (Cucubita), Vaama puvvu
(Ajwain) etc. White ‘gunuka’ flowers are dipped in myriad water colors
like pink, maroon, purple, green, yellow etc.
Once Bathukamma is ready, family places it
before the family deity and offer prayers. After song and dance, the
Bathukammas are immersed in ponds and water bodies, share Maleeja, a dessert
made with sugar and wheat bread and return home singing in praise of
Bathukamma.
Each day for nine days different “Naivedyam”
(food) offerings are made to Goddess.
There are different stories on its origin.
According to legend, mythology, Bathukamma is
dedicated to Goddess Gauri and her battle against the demon king ‘Mahishasura’
which took place for nine days. Navarathri is celebrated for victory of good
over evil.
It is also said in Telugu scripts that Daksha
performed a Yagna and invited everyone except his youngest daughter, Gauri, who
married Lord Shiva against his wish. In spite of Shiva’s will, Gauri went to
the Yagna and she was insulted along with Lord Shiva. Insulted, she sacrificed
her life in fire. To bring her back, women folk present her flowers and make
turmeric idol of the Goddess and sing and dance around Bathukamma.
Another story says that King Dharmangada, the
king of Chola Dynasty, named his daughter born after a long time Bathukamma,
which means Life and Mother. It said the baby survived many accidents.
It is also the said the festival is to worship
Goddess Lakshmi in the belief that the young girls would get good husbands as
their wish.
Bathukamma for nine days
have different names
·
1st day Engili Pula
Bathukamma
·
2nd day Atkula
Bathukamma
·
3rd day Mundapappu
Bathukamma
·
4th day: Nanabiyaam
Bathukamma
·
5th day: Atla
Bathukamma
·
6th day Aligina
Bathukamma
·
7th day Vepakayala
Bathukamma
·
8th day
Vennamuddala Bathukamma and
·
9th and last day
Saddula Bathukamma: (For the last day, women folk prepare 5 varieties of cooked
rice mixed with lemon, coconut, tamarind, curd and sesame.
C R Gowri Shanker is a seasoned
journalist who has worked, among other newspapers, with Deccan Chronicle in
Hyderabad
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