- By Kashish Rai
- Tue, 01 Oct 2024 05:38 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Bathukamma 2024: The vibrant Telugu festival - Bathukamma celebrates the glory of Goddess Gauri, the embodiment of feminine power and nature's splendour. These nine-day festivities honour the goddess, seeking blessings for prosperity, health, and happiness. Women create beautiful Bathukamma, a flower stack arrangement, offering prayers and songs. The festival symbolises the cyclical renewal of life, as women worship Goddess Gauri's nine forms, representing the nine days of Navaratri. This year, Bathukamma began on 1st October 2024.
Check out all relevant information about the end date, significance and rituals of this Telugu floral festival.
Bathukamma 2024: Start And End Date
- Bathukamma 2024 Start Date: 1st October 2024, Tuesday
- Bathukamma 2024 End Date: 9th October 2024, Wednesday
Bathukamma 2024: Significance
The Bathukamma festival, a cherished Telugu tradition, is celebrated over nine days in the Ashwin (Ashwayujamu) month. Commencing on Bhadrapada Amavasya, or Mahalaya Amavasya, the festivities culminate on the ninth day with Saddula Bathukamma, aligning with the nationally observed Durga Ashtami. Notably, Bathukamma coincides with the nine-day Sharad Navratri celebrations held across India. This convergence highlights the shared cultural heritage and spiritual significance of these events. In the Gregorian calendar, Bathukamma falls between September and October, bridging regional and national festivities. This harmonious overlap underscores India's rich cultural diversity, weaving together regional traditions with national celebrations.
Bathukamma honours Goddess Gauri, celebrating feminine power, nature's beauty, and spiritual renewal, fostering community bonding and cultural heritage. (Image Source: Canva)
Bathukamma 2024: Rituals
The Bathukamma festival commences with a five-day preparation period, where women meticulously clean and whitewash their homes, using cow dung to purify the atmosphere and invite Goddess Gauri's blessings. Meanwhile, men gather seasonal flowers to adorn the Bathukamma. Women create intricate floral designs on their homes' floors using rice flour paste or whitewash. Cow dung cakes are strategically placed around the house to ward off evil spirits.
The centrepiece of the festival, the Bathukamma, is crafted by women. This stunning floral arrangement consists of seven concentric rings of flowers in a clay pot, topped with a pumpkin flower and turmeric lump. On the festival day, young unmarried girls dance around the Bathukammas, singing traditional songs and sharing ancient stories. Following worship, the Bathukammas are immersed in rivers, symbolizing the departure of Goddess Gauri.
The festivities are marked by vibrant cultural activities, including traditional dance, music, and theatre performances. Local street plays, known as 'jataras,' are a highlight, while special Bathukamma songs fill the air. The festival's colourful atmosphere is enhanced by women wearing new sarees and gold jewellery, while young girls don traditional 'Langa Oni' (half sarees). Married women exchange kumkum and turmeric on each other's faces after the immersion ritual. As the celebrations conclude, a sweet dish called Maleeda, made from jaggery, is distributed among participants. The festival's emphasis on colours, water, and flowers creates a joyous and spiritual atmosphere.
(Disclaimer: This is based on general public information. Jagran English does not confirm its veracity. Before adopting any measures, consult an expert in the relevant field.)
