(Image source from: Arizona Telengana Association invites all to attend its Bhatukamma celebrations)
It's that time of the year again folks, the time when all Hindu women in Telengana congregate to celebrate the Bathukamma Padunga, a one-of-its-kind of a festival honoring Goddess Gouri.
On this festive occasion, Arizona Telangana Association too is hosting Bathukama & Dasara Sambaralu - 2014 on September 27th, 2014 4.30PM.
Sri Serineni, the President of ATA, invites all to attend the celebrations that will be held at Eldorado Park, 2311 N Miller Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85257. Besides potluck, there will be exciting contests held for Best Bhatukamma and Bhatukamma song.
What is Bathukamma?
Celebrated during Navratri, this nine days of festivity is marked by revelry and rituals, and is especially solemnized by the women folks of the region who pay their obeisance to the Goddess Maha Gouri Devi and seek her blessings for prosperity and a good year. In fact, it would be no exaggeration to describe this “padunga” as the next big festival in Telangana after Dasara or Vijaya Dashami.
The auspicious festivities of Bathukamma commences during Mahalaya Amavasya, also known as Bhadrapada Amavasya each year, falling sometime during the months of September-October, and culminates on “Saddula Bathukamma” or “Pedda Bathukamma” on Ashwayuja Ashtami or Durgashtami, which is two days before Dussehra. Bathukamma, incidentally, heralds the beginning of Sarath Ruthu.
As unique as it might be, the tradition of Bathukamma is steeped deep into the rich culture of Telangana. During this festival, Goddess Gauri is embodied as Bathukamma, a colorful, conical floral arrangement that signifies life and eternity.
Preparations
Every year, during this time, women spend the first five days of the festival sanctifying their 'vakili' or courtyard with cow dung water. ManagalAkara or Muggu Patterns (rangoli made with rice flour) adorn the yards of homes. The men of the house help to gather colorful blooms like గునుగు (Celosia), తంగెడు (Senna auriculata), బంతి (Tagetes), చామంతి (Chrysanthemum), తామెర పువ్వు(Nelumbo nucifera), గుమ్మడి ఆకులు & పువ్వులు (Cucurbita), దోస ఆకులు & పువ్వులు (Cucumis Sativus), అల్లి (Memecylon edule), గడ్డి పువ్వు (Tridax procumbens), వామ పువ్వు (Trachyspermum ammi), Katla, and Teku flowers for the Bathukamma.
The women folks of the house trim the flowers, dip them in various vibrant colors or scents and stack them on a wide plate called Thambalam, in a conical mound, topped with a Lotus or Pumpkin flower along with Guramma (a symbolic idol of Gowri made of turmeric).
During the evenings, the women assemble in their neighborhood localities with their Bathukammas and sing folk songs and circle around their Bathukammas, placed in the center, worshipping the goddess and seeking good health, prosperity and happiness for their families. The songs are sung to invoke the blessings of various goddesses and the rendition end with any one of the following three tributes Uyyaala - ఉయ్యాల, Chandamama - చందమామ or Gouramma – గౌరమ్మ..
This festival concludes with Saddula Bathukamma. On this day, the Bathukammas are immersed in water with utmost devotion and enthusiasm as rhythmic drum rolls fills the air. Guramma (a symbolic idol of Gowri made of turmeric) is taken back from Bathukamma before immersion and married women applies a paste of this, on her Mangala sutra that marks the solemnization of her marriage and also her husband is protected from all evils and ill fate.
During the 9 days of the festival, a Nivedyam or a special dish is prepared and offered to the goddess every day. Most often than not, these nivedyams are prepared with Corn (మొక్క జొన్నలు), Sorghum (జొన్నలు), Bajra (సజ్జలు), Black Gram (మినుములు), Bengal Gram (శనగలు), Green Gram (పెసర్లు), Ground Nuts (పల్లి), Sesame (నువ్వులు), Wheat (గోధుమలు), Rice (బియ్యము), Cashew Nut (జీడిపప్పు), Jaggery (బెల్లం), Milk (పాలు) etc. Maleeda, a special treat comprising roti and jaggery, is prepared and distributed on the last day of the festival.
Why Bathukamma is celebrated?
Legend traces the origin of Bathukamma to the reign of Chola King Dharmangada. It's said that after years of prayers and wait, his wife, Satyavati, gave birth to Goddess Lakshmi. As a child, she survived many fatal accidents. So her parents named her as Bathukamma (Bathuku – Life, Amma – Mother).
Since then, women across the region celebrate the festival to get a groom of their choice, to be ideal wives and daughter-in-laws, and to be a light and a living example of graciousness, accomplishments and goodness for the world. Married women celebrate the festival to pray to the Goddess for good health and prosperity of their family.
Other sources trace the origin of Bathukamma, meaning ‘come back to life mother’, to Goddess Sati who returns as Goddess Parvati during this time.
Another myth is that during this time, Goddess Gauri killed the fierce demon 'Mahishasura' following a fierce fight. After this, she went to sleep on the 'Aswayuja Padyami', due to fatigue. The devotees prayed to her to wake up, and she woke up on the Dasami.
There is a distinct grandeur about this festival that one can only associate with a festival of this nature. During this festival, fun and frolic becomes the order of the day. Dance, music, dramas, jataras and a variety of entertainments are held during this nine-day long celebrations.
Come, get a slice of Bathukamma and participate in the revelry with Arizona Telengana Association this time.
AW: Suchoritha Chowdary
