Women Throng Tank Bund For Bathukamma Finale
Performances by about 700 artists showcased Telangana’s cultural heritage: Reports
HYDERABAD: The nine‑day Bathukamma celebrations concluded on Sunday, with women turning out in large numbers across the city to celebrate Saddula Bathukamma. Women decorated Bathukamma arrangements with seasonal flowers and made offerings to the goddess.
One of the major highlights at Tank Bund was a procession of around 1,000 women dressed in colourful sarees and jewellery, carrying Bathukammas from the Telangana Martyrs Memorial to Hussain Sagar. Before immersion in the lake, women and girls formed circles, sang songs and celebrated the festival.
Performances by about 700 artists showcased Telangana’s cultural heritage, featuring Kommukoya, Gusadi and Bonam art forms along with 30 others.
Another attraction was a laser and fireworks show accompanied by Telangana folk and traditional music. Film actors Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna joined the celebrations, with Rashmika playing Bathukamma along with other women.
The celebrations were also held on a grand scale at IDL Lake and Nalla Cheruvu in Kukatpally, with a large number of women taking part in the festivities. Similarly, the Saroornagar lake, also known as Mini Tank Bund, saw a huge turnout of women from surrounding localities. Dressed in their best traditional attire, women and girls gathered around the Bathukammas and sang songs.
At the Hussainsagar, Shirisha, a resident of Ramanthapur, said she was happy to take part for the first time in the celebrations. P. Jyothi from Hayathnagar attended with her family. “We play Bathukamma at home and wanted to experience the celebrations here,” she said. G. Vanaja from Bandlaguda Jagir said she had come with her children. “Bathukamma is a festival for women, and we wanted to see the celebrations and culture outside our area,” she said.
Speaking at the event organised by the state government, culture minister Jupally Krishna Rao said Bathukamma brought people together beyond caste and religion, reflecting the bond between people and nature. Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla, Minister Seethakka, special chief secretary Vani Prasad and other officials also participated.
Women from different parts of the city joined the celebrations, with streets across Hyderabad witnessing large gatherings at Saddula Bathukamma events in residential colonies. At Indis Viva City, Serilingampally, celebrations began with a Bathukamma procession accompanied by dholak. The society arranged a large Bathukamma along with Pasupu Gauramma.