Importance, story, why and how to celebrate Bathukamma

What is the importance of Bathukamma?

The nine-day floral festival has begun in Telangana.
Bathukamma means 'Mother Goddess come alive' and the festival represents the cultural spirit of Telangana, symbolizing the patron Goddess of womanhood. The festival is also regarded as the Spring Festival of Goddess Gauri

 Importance, story, why and how to celebrate Bathukamma

What is the story behind Bathukamma?

Bathukamma festival has many myths behind its origin. According to the Hindu religious scholars and pundits, one myth regarding Goddess Gauri is that she after a fierce fight killed 'Mahishasura' the demon. After this serious act, she went into a deep sleep due to fatigue on the 'Aswayuja Padyami' day.

 Importance, story, why and how to celebrate Bathukamma

How do we celebrate Bathukamma?

Bathukamma is a festival of flowers observed for 9 days, by the Hindu women of Telangana in India. Celebrated every year as per the Telugu version of the Hindu calendar in Bhadrapada Amavasya, also known as Mahalaya Amavasya, it generally falls in the period of September-October of the Gregorian calendar.

 Importance, story, why and how to celebrate Bathukamma

What are the flowers used in Bathukamma?

Hence, Mother Life is celebrated. Bathukamma is a conical-shape, concentrically-arranged flower mound. Flowers of Celosia, Cassia, Marigold, Chrysanthemum, the flower of Pumpkin plant, Luffa and others that are indigenous to Telangana form the major part of the flowers in making a Bathukamma

 Importance, story, why and how to celebrate Bathukamma

How to celebrate the festival?
During the first five days, women clean their courtyard. The cow dung is then mixed with water and spread throughout as the ground-base. Then it is further decorated with a rangoli which is made of rice flour.
The men collect the flowers of vibrant colors and types for the preparations. Their flowers are mainly; Celosia, Senna, Marigold, Lotus, Cucurbita, Cucumis etc. The preparations and decorating the rangoli and other things is folk art and generally, the preparations begin from the afternoon.

The list of names of each day as it is celebrated:
Day 1: Engili pula Bathukamma
Day 2: Atkula Bathukamma
Day 3: Muddapappu Bathukamma
Day 4: Nanabiyyam Bathukamma
Day 5: Atla Bathukamma
Day 6: Aligina Bathukamma
Day 7: Vepakayala Bathukamma
Day 8: Vennamuddala Bathukamma
Day 9: Saddula Bathukamma