Inaugural Bathukamma festivities begin in Warangal; Hyderabad gets ready to celebrate
Engili Pula Bathukamma, began on a grand note on Sunday at Thousand Pillar Temple in Hanmakonda, Warangal district with women and girls dressed in festive attire.
Telangana’s floral festival celebrated with song and dance by women across the state, Bathukamma, began on Sunday at the historic Thousand Pillar Temple, Hanmakonda, Warangal district of Telangana.
Speaking at the inaugural event in Warangal, Deputy CM Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka said that the prayers of women to Goddess Gauramma, across nine days, should bear fruit and ensure prosperity to the state and its people.
Ministers Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, Konda Surekha, Seethakka also took part in the event. The state government has made arrangements to celebrate the nine-day festival, which will end on September 30 with Saddula Bathukamma.
Hyderabad also geared up for the festival with much gaiety and pomp across Residence Welfare Associations (RWAs) and other gated communities.
In recent years, the festival, which was earlier restricted to villages and small towns, has now become popular in Hyderabad and its gated communities.
GHMC arrangements in Hyderabad:
Meanwhile, Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has made arrangements at around 450 places in the city, including artificial ponds, deploying 384 sanitation workers, constructing 1,450 temporary toilets, 82 electrical lighting points.
GHMC Commissioner RV Karnan said that Bathukamma is Telangana’s cultural pride and identity and that GHMC is committed to ensuring celebrations take place safely.
More than 1 crore women are expected to take part in celebrations across the state, V Kranthi, MD of Telangana Tourism Development Corporation said.