Batukamma
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| Batukamma | |
 |
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| Observed by | Hindu women of Telangana |
|---|---|
| Type | Spring festival of Goddess Gauri |
| Begins | Aswiyuja |
| Ends | Durgashtami |
| Date | September/October |
| Celebrations | 7 days |
| Related to | Dussehra |
Batukamma is a spring festival celebrated by the women of Telangana region in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India. This festival usually is in the months of September/October called as Aswiyuja, concludes two days before Dussera called as Durgashtami.
The name Batukamma is given to a flower stack, arranged with seasonal flowers, usually in seven concentric layers, of potter’s clay like a [[cone] (geometry)|cone]].
Batuku in Telugu means live/life, and Amma means mother, hence Batukamma. Batukamma celebrates the glory of Gauri goddess (meaning fair or white) - the patron Goddess of womanhood [1].
Women celebrate this festival dressed-up in traditional silk sarees, wear jewellery and girls wear a two-piece saree called as Langa oni.
[edit] The Ritual
In the evenings, women gather different seasonal flowers, dip in colours, some scented and arrange them on a wide plate called as tambalamu, stack them up in a conical mound.
Later they gather in large numbers with their batukammas in their locality, place them in the middle and dance around them, synchronizing steps and claps in unison, and singing soul stirring batukamma folk songs.
After singing and dancing, Batukammalu are set afloat in a lake or a pond nearby.
This festival goes on for seven days and concludes on Durgastami. The main festival day is called Saddula Batukamma. On this day they celebrate into wee hours before leaving their Batukamma in water.
Lakes floating with batukammas in the evenings is a treat to the eyes.
Maleeda, a sweet made of jaggery, is prepared on this day and distributed.
