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18th May 2012

Images by Lakshmi Prabhala

The festival of flowers in Telangana

by Lakshmi Prabhala

Amongst the numerous gods and goddesses and the many festivals that glorify them, there are some assume a strong cultural identity and regional influence. Bathukamma Panduga is one of such festivals, specific to the Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh and it's celebrated annually by women during Navarathri as a tribute to the Goddess Gauri, also referred to as Bathukamma, to seek her blessings for prosperity (“Bathuku” means life, “amma” means mother alluding to Goddess).

There are many legends related to the origin of the festival. One story talks of the Goddess Gauri setting herself on fire due to humiliation of her husband Lord Shiva by her father. In a hope to bring her back, the women make a turmeric idol of the Goddess, worship it with plenty of flowers and sing and dance around the idol.

Another tale is about King Dharmangada of the Chola Dynasty: his wife gave birth to Princess Lakshmi after many prayers and rituals. The child survived many accidents and mishaps and hence the parents named her Batukamma.

The bathukammalu consists in a stack of seasonal flowers, beautifully arranged in concentric layers on a conical mound. On the top are placed a cone made of turmeric or the gynoecium of a pumpkin flower and this floral arrangement is worshipped as Goddess Batukamma. The wooden base used for making the Bathukamma is called ‘taambaalam’.

On Durgastami, two days before the main Dusshera festival, at sundown, women of all ages, dressed in colourful silk sarees and heavy jewellery, congregate carrying in their hands their own batukammalu, in various colours and sizes. They gather in large circles around the Bathukamma, singing songs in chorus and going around it in circles, synchronising steps and claps – thereby creating a circle of unity and sisterhood. As the rhythms of the folk songs echo in the streets, the tales of the common woman, her dreams as well as difficulties, and the socio-economic and political conditions of the region lend a unique Telangana flavour to the festival.

At times, after playing around the bathukammalu in their neighbouhood, the women go as a procession towards a bigger lake or pond, carrying the Bathukammalus on their heads, singing songs along the way. Finally, when they reach the lake, the batukammalus are slowly set afloat into the water. The women then exchange haldi and kumkum as it is considered auspicious, and share sweets. Maleeda is a sweet made from jaggery and flour specially for this festival. The procession, as well as the number of floral mountains floating in water is a visual treat, and those wishing to see the festival in true spirit must visit Warangal on its last day.

While colours, flowers and water are all characteristic to many festivals, what makes Bathukamma special is that the goddess is not limited only to a temple, but she's made of flowers which indicates the dual aspects of life - its the eternity as well as its transience. This festival is akin to a thanksgiving to the mother of life and the bountiful nature. It is a celebration of the season of blooming flowers, of overflowing water ponds, and of harmonious relationship between human beings and Mother Nature.