Bathukamma – the unique festival of Telangana has been celebrated in Brisbane by Brisbane Telangana Association Inc. with great enthusiasm. All the men and women including kids participated in traditional attire. BATHUKAMMA is a Festival of Flowers – Bathukamma represents cultural spirit of Telangana.

Bathukamma is a beautiful flower stack, arranged with different unique seasonal flowers most of them with medicinal value, in seven concentric layers in the shape of potter’s clay like a cone. In Telugu, ‘Bathukamma’ means ‘Mother Goddess Come Alive’ and Goddess Maha Gauri-‘Life Giver’ is worshipped in the form of Bathukamma – the patron goddess of womanhood (Maha Gauri Devi). It is the festival for feminine felicitation. On this special occasion women dress up in the traditional sari combining it with jewels and other accessories. Teenage Girls wear Langa-Oni/Half-Sarees/Lehenga Choli combining it with jewels in order to bring out the traditional grace of the attire.

In the evening, Women gathered in large number, placed their Bathukammas at the centre of the hall and all of them formed a circle around the Bathukamma, singing folk songs by clapping their hands and revolving around the Bathukamma. Synchronizing steps and claps in unison provided a splendorous look to the celebration. The tradition by performing this is, Women seek good health, prosperity and happiness for their families. The songs are to invoke the blessings of various goddesses. By principle, the rendition ends with any one of the following three tributes Uyyaala, Chandamama or Gouramma. Later on the Bathukammas were immersed in water.

Bathukamma is the most environmental friendly celebration being the festival of flowers and immersion of these flowers with medicinal values in water purifies the water.

Traditional Telangana prasadam (deserts) made by the Women participants was served along with the vegetarian food. With over 250 participants, the Hamilton Town Hall was echoed with Bathukamma Songs and all celebrated the festival with great enthusiasm. Association president Ram Mereddy introduced the committee to all the attendees and requested that the membership is now open for the interested people. This year is spectacular for all Telanganites being the separate state formation in India and celebrating Bathukamma which is now one of the state official festivals.