Bathukamma Panduga – Telangana Floral Festival is a major festival of Telangana state and is celebrated by hindu women. This festival is a symbol of Telangana’s cultural identity.
Bathukamma is celebrated for nine days and Goddess Gauri mother is worshiped these 9 days. According to the Hindu calendar, it is observed during the month of Bhadrapada Amavasya, also called Mahalaya Amavasya.
Bathukamma – Nine Day Floral Festival History & Significance
“Kurisina Poola Panduga, Virabusina Nela Panduga, Priyamaina Neeti Panduga, Telangana ke Talamaanikam, Mana Bathukamma“
Meaning: Splendrous Heavenly Flowers, Bloom Vibrantly, In our Soil, In Our Soul, As Bathukamma Festival
Telangana’s floral Festival is one of the state’s most significant celebrations, and it is observed with great devotion.
Bathukamma falls between end of monsoon and start of winter, ie. Bathukamma arrives in the middle of the rainy season, which gives plants and trees plenty of water to blossom a variety of vividly coloured flowers on the region’s desolate and uncultivated plains. ‘gunuka poolu’ and ‘tangedu poolu’ are most used in bathukamma preparation.
During the festival women worship Goddess Gauri(Parvati Devi) in the form of Bathukamma in this region. The word Bathukamma literally translates as Bathuku + Amma ie. “come alive Mother Goddess”.
Bathukamma festival is celebrated for a period of 9 days and ends up as “Saddula Bathukamma” or “Pedda Bathukamma” festival on Ashwayuja Ashtami, popularly known as Durgashtami which is two days before Dussehra. People praise the goddess for the previous year and seek her blessings for the upcoming one.
Significance Of Each Day In Bathukamma Festival
It’s 9 Days of Celebration In Telangana, From day 1 beginning from Pethara Amavasya till Saddula Bathukamma are listed below.
First day of Bathukamma is celebrated as Engili Puvvula Bathukamma
It falls on Mahalaya Amavasya day (also called as Pethara Amasa, Bhadrapada Amavasya).
Sacred food offered on Engili Puvvula Bathukamma day is food made with til / sesame (nuvvulu), rice flour (Nookalu) or recipe made with mixture of sesame seeds and wet rice (Tadi Biyyam).
Second day of Bathukamma festival is Celebrated as Atukula Bathukamma
It falls on the first day of Ashwayuja Masam (Navaratri Kalasha Sthapana)
Food offered to goddess deity on Atukula Bathukamma day is naivedyam made with Sappadi Pappu, Atukulu (flattened rice), jaggery (bellam) etc.
Third day of Bathukamma festival Celebrated as Muddhapappu Bathukamma
It falls on second day of Ashwayuja Masam – Month (Preethi Vidiya)
Palaharam offered to goddess mother on Muddhapappu Bathukamma is any food like Muddhapappu made with dal, paalu (milk) or bellam (jaggery).
Fourth day of Bathukamma festival is Celebrated as Nanbiyyam Bathukamma
It falls on the third day of Navaratri festival. (Sindhura Thadiya Gauri)
Naivedyam, Palaharam on Nanabiyyam Bathukamma day is any recipe made with Nanabiyyam (wet rice), milk and jaggery.
Fifth day of Bathukamma festival is Celebrated as Atla Bathukamma
It is celebrated on fourth day of Navratri utsavams.
Naivedyam, Palaharam on Atla Bathukamma is any recipe made with uppudu biyyam, dosa-dosha, attu-atlu, etc.
Sixth day of Bathukamma festival is called as Aligina Bathukamma (Alaka Bathukamma)
On Navaratri days It falls on the fifth day (also celebrated as Lalita Panchami). Bathukamma is not prepared on this and not offered
No Naivedyam or Palaharam is offered on Aligina Bathukamma day. Women do not prepare Bathukamma but play Bathukamma.
Seventh day of Bathukamma is Celebrated as Vepakayala Bathukamma
It falls on sixth day of Navaratri days ie on Durga sasthi-shashti day.
Naivedyam, Palaharam for Vepakayala Bathukamma is recipe made with sakinala pindi in the form of vepakayalu (Neem fruits – Azadirachta indica).
Eighth day of Bathukamma festival is Celebrated as Vennamuddhala Bathukamma
It falls on the seventh day of Durga Navaratri (Durga Saptami / Maha Saptami)
On Vennamuddhala Bathukamma day food offered to goddess is recipe made with ingredients like venna (butter), neyyi (ghee), nuvvulu (til / sesame), jaggery (bellam), etc.
Ninth day of Bathukamma festival ie. final day of bathukamma celebrations is known as Saddhula Bathukamma
On the last day of bathukamma people prepare big size Bathukammas than on regular days and immerse in water which is also called as Bathukamma Nimajjanam. It falls on Durga Ashtami day and in some instances it falls on Mahanavami day.
Food offered to goddess on Saddula Bathukamma is five fried rice varieties that are the special of Telangana dishes –
Perugu saddhi (Perugannam saddhi – Curd rice)
Chinthapandu Pulihora saddhi (Tamarind rice)
Nimmakaya saddhi (lemon rice)
Kobbari saddhi (coconut rice)
Nuvvula saddhi (sesame rice).
How To Celebrate Bathukamma?
The festival of colours and flowers is known as Bathukamma. In order to create a conical arrangement of flowers, the ladies first decorate a tiny wooden platform or brass plate (known as taambalam) with various flowers, such as Gunuka, Tangedi, Lotus, Alli, Katla, Teku, the gourd flower, etc. The Bathukamma is a conical arrangement of flowers that represents the mother goddess.
Every woman gathers in one location, places the conical stacks in the middle, and then dances around it while clapping and singing traditional songs. There is a lot of fun and excitement during this festival.
The goddess is worshipped for nine days, and on the tenth day of the festival, she is immersed in the local waters with the proper ceremonies and rites.
The stunning traditional silk sarees are worn by the women. Alongside the women the young girls from the area, who emerge wearing a half-saree known as the langa voni (South Indian traditional dress).
The songs typically include wonderful tales about women, the social and economic circumstances of the area, etc. The local women are observed singing simultaneously and without prior practice because they are familiar with the melodies by heart.
When the Bathukamma is floated in the evenings on the tenth day, it provides a lovely, serene, and tranquil visual pleasure. The ladies exchange the traditional sindoors or large red vertical marks on the foreheads that signify their husbands’ long lifespans.
Bathukamma – Telangana Floral Festival History
Bathukamma, which translates to “come back to life mother,” is a request for Goddess Sati to make a comeback. Legend has it that Sati returned as Goddess Parvati and therefore the festival is also dedicated to Goddess Parvati.
One myth states that after a lengthy battle, Goddess Gauri killed the demon “Mahishasura.” She was so exhausted after this fierce fight, she went to sleep on “Aswayuja Padyami.” She woke up on Dasami after the devotees prayed her to wake up.
One of the Telugu-scripted historical manuscripts mentions the legend of Batukamma Panduga. South India was ruled by King Dharmangada of the Chola Dynasty centuries ago. After being married, he was childless for a long time. Goddess Lakshmi was born to his wife after numerous pujas and rites.
Baby Lakshmi survived through numerous mishaps. While raising their only child, her parents experienced both life and death. They then gave their daughter the name Bathukamma. The Telugu language defines Bathuku as “life” and Amma as “a female name and mother.” Since then, young ladies in the Telangana region have been celebrating the Batukamma festival.
This festival’s primary goal is to honour the Goddess in the hope that young girls may find spouses who fulfil their desires. Beginning on the Padyami, or first day, of the month Ashvayuja (September–October), it is observed for nine days.
Telugu literature mentions another legend, or katha, concerning Bathukamma. Everyone was invited to a Yagna that Daksha performed, with the exception of Gauri, his youngest daughter, who married Lord Shiva against his wishes. Gauri attended the Yagna against Shiva’s wishes and was insulted along with Lord Shiva.
Couldn’t stand the insult she gave her life by setting herself on fire. In an attempt to bring her back Women offer her flowers, create a turmeric idol of the goddess and sing, dance around the Bathukamma idol.
