Saddula Bathukamma -19

Immersed bathukammas in pond at Padmakshi temple

Today, Durgashtami, Telangana has celebrated 'Saddula Bathukamma' festival with great fervour.  

Women carrying bathukamma on their head

Though it was raining women dressed up traditionally in their best carried bathukammas on their or otherwise, and reached nearest temple.  Women played with devotion singing songs in praise of  'Gouri Devi'.  After leaving bathukammas in water they offered turmeric to one another for longevity happy marital life. 

After Gouri puja, turmeric is offered to one another

 Here are few pictures taken at Padmakshi temple in Hanamkonda, Warangal.

Traditionally dressed woman with bathukamma with picture of Devi Maa

Though it rained, the lights, huge crowds was creating some anxiety carrying bathukamma safely has made her sweat

Bathukamma too tall to carry on head, so this is how this young beautiful girl was carrying it

Another woman with carrying Devi Maa on top of her Bathukamma

A woman with bathukamma waiting for her companions to go to Padmakshi

Bathukamma - 17

women playing at Padmakshi gutta

Today is 'Saddula Bathukamma',  a festival of flowers unique to Telangana state.  This festival is celebrated with pomp and gaiety.  The festival starts on 'pettaramasa', the new moon day, a day before the start of 'Aswayuja' month of Telugu calendar. Every day floral batukamma is made put in the centre and women of all ages gather and play going around  it in circle.  As they play they sing songs.  On the ninth day i.e., eighth day of Ashwayuja bathukammas are made big.  

Traditionally bathukamma is carried on head

Whenever bathukamma is made a big(talli - mother) one and small one - 'pilla (child) bathukamma' is made.  The big one is carried by mother or elder woman in the family and the small by the daughter or children.  

Mother and child carrying bathukamma

First bathukamma is played at home and then all the women and girl children in the locality will go to nearby pond, lake, tank or temple and play in groups singing songs. The play is generally by clapping hands and going round the bathukammas that are placed in the centre.  Sometimes 'kolatam' is played.  After playing bathukammas are left in water so that it floats on water. 

Bathukamma being put in the pond at Padmakshi gutta, Hanamkonda

When Telangana was merged with Andhra, in old Andhra Pradesh this festival was never recognised as important cultural event of Telangana people.  During Telangana agitation 'Bathukamma' was made symbolic of Telangana people and region and brought unity among people.  Credit should be given to Kalvakuntla Kavitha the founder and president of Telangana Jagruti for taking this festival to the international level.  

When bathukamma is too big and heavy it is brought on vehicle or men will carry it to spot where women play

Male member in the family or a worker will carry when bathukamma is heavy

Since the formation of Telangana, the government is taking special interest to promote this festival as traditional and cultural event. But the changes that are slowly creeping in are making it more artificial.  The introduction of DJ songs though sound like bathukamma songs, the content is changing to cinematic songs and also the traditional play is transforming into different steps as in Indian movie songs.  

Young and old enjoy the festival.  Members of three generations seen together

Today when I have gone to Padmakshi gutta to enjoy the festival listening to women singing songs, I was disappointed.  Records are put and women had to just listen and go round bathukammas. Some were trying to sing but could not continue as sound of records was very loud.  I heard many people having this complaint.  I hope next year we will have traditional songs and bathukamma play.  That will encourage women to learn traditional songs and sing.  This art of singing bathukamma songs should never be allowed to die in the name modernity and DJ bathukamma songs. 

As Padmakshi gutta will be flooded by women on Saddulu, men are not allowed near the play area.  They have to wait outside taking care of children.  Here a grand father seen taking care of his grand children.  Boy is seen carrying his mother's bag

Sankranti

Sanskranti is the only Hindu (Indian) festival which falls on the same day of English Calendar. Makara Sankranti comes on 14th January (15th in leap year) every year. This is the time when farmers get their produce home. It is celebrated in pompous gaiety with all the family members coming together for three day festivities.
In Telangana this is celebrated also as festival of kites. Rangoli (drawing colorful muggus) in front of the house is part of the festival. The most important item that is prepared on this festival day in Telangana is ‘Sakinalu’. This is the specific item that is made in good quantities to last for a month or so. Every household will make it a ritual of this preparation. As large scale 5-10kg of Sakinalu are made, women join in groups and help one another in its preparation. Even professionals who make it at home are also available.
Ingredients:
Rice – 1kg
Sesame – 100-200gms (as per taste)
‘Voma’ – 1-2 teaspoons (as per taste)
Salt to taste.
Oil to fry

Preparation: soak the cleaned rice in water for about 4hrs. Drain the water. Get the rice pounded to flour by hand or machine. Wash sesame and ‘voma’ and add to the rice flour. Add salt. Mix the flour well with added ingredients. Take thick cloth and spread it on the floor or any table. Take small quantity of the mixed rice flour into small bowl and add water to make soft dough. Take lime size of this dough onto the palm and string it out between the thumb and index finger and make circular sakinalu with at least two complete loops. There should not be gaps between the loops of the circles. If there are gaps these will break when they are picked up by the spatula from the cloth. Before picking up the Sakinalu allow these to partially dry. Allowing the sakinalu to be left for about an hour are two will result in excess water being absorbed by the cloth. This will make picking up Sakinalu easy. Pick up sakinalu onto a small plate. Put these in heated oil and allow them to deep fry, or until the sakinalu turn ivory white or faint brown. Remove from oil put it in a bowl. Once they are cold put them in an air tight container and store. These can be kept for more than 2-3 months.
Sakinalu taste good when eaten as such or eaten with tomato chutney or gravy of mutton or chicken or any other hot sauce.

Bathukamma Festival

Bathukamma is festival of flowers in Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh – India. This festival is celebrated on Durgashtami – 8th day of Ashwayuja masam (month). The festival starts on the last day of Bhadrapada masam, that is on Amavasya which is also known as 'pithru amavasya'. From that day onwards women will make Bathukamma with flowers, join in groups in the evening and keep all Bathukammas in the centre and go round it with rhythmic clapping of hands and singing songs. On the last day – ninth day that is Durgashtami, a big Bathukamma and a small Bathukamma is made. In the morning Goddess Kali is worshipped and in the evening women join in groups and go to a nearby temple and play Bathukamma singing songs and going round the Bathukammas with rhythmic clapping of hands. After that they offer pasupu (turmeric) and kumkum to one another and offer prasadam of sattu pindi (roasted and powdered corns mixed with sugar or jaggery).
This festival is specific to Telangana region. In Warangal district it is celebrated with fervour. In Hanamkonda region most of them go to Padmakshi temple to play. The other important temples are Thousand pillars temple and Bhadrakali temple. There are many other small temples where woman in the nearby locality will visit to play. After playing usually the Bathukammas are left in the water, tank or lake near the temple or else just leave to a side in the temple premises. People believe that celebration of this festival will bring peace and prosperity to the family and long life to the husband of the woman.