Hyderabad: Along with 25,000 women, Telanganites from across 63 countries in the world took part in the Bathukamma celebrations, which were web telecast on Thursday. However, owing to prior appointments and the “Swachh Bharat Mission”, none of the women ministers turned up.
TRS MP K. Kavita, along with Deputy Speaker Padma Devender Reddy, led the procession. “I did not like the way the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation and and the Hyderabad Municipal Development Authorities put up Bathukammas on the city roads this time The design does not match the shape of the Bathukamma,” said Ms Kavita.
Meanwhile, a Telangana cultural organisation is planning to celebrate Bathukamma in over 25 countries next year. “Since there was not much time this year, we could not spread the message and the importance of the festival outside the city. Next year, we plan to do it in more than 25 countries as the present government has taken up the celebrations of this event as a state festival,” said Ms Kavitha.
The Telangana state government, led by Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, had sanctioned Rs 10 crore for the festival celebrations all over the state. Ms Kavitha said that Telangana Jagruti had taken up the task of reviving the culture of TS for the past seven years, as per the aspirations of people of the newborn state.
Telangana Jagruti will take up issues that will preserve the traditional art forms, such as “Nirmal toys”. She said that currently, the wood used to make the toys was taxable, besides there being some restrictions on cutting the timber. These “obstacles” needed to be done away with for the promotion of TS culture.
The previous government had just declared Bathukamma a state festival, but had done nothing to promote it, the MP alleged. Also, a mini Bathukamma will be celebrated during the forthcoming Metropolis week, scheduled to take place from October 6 to 11, and a specially designed sculpture depicting woman performing Bathukamma will be set at HICC.
Right: The CM enjoys the festivities with his wife and grandchildren. — DC
