Bathukamma
| Bathukamma | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Also called | Telangana's Floral Festival |
| Observed by | women of the Telangana State , India |
| Type | Spring Festival of Goddess Gauri |
| Celebrations | 9 days |
| Observances | b |
| Begins | Mahalaya Amavasya,PetharAmasa |
| Ends | Durgashtami |
| Date | September/October |
| Frequency | Annual |
| Related to | Dasara |
Bathukamma is floral festival celebrated by the Hindu women of Telangana. Every year this festival is celebrated as per Telugu version of Hindu calendar in the Bhadrapada Amavasya, also known as Mahalaya Amavasya, usually in September–October of Gregorian calendar. Bathukamma is celebrated for nine days during Durga Navratri. It starts on the day of Mahalaya Amavasya and the 9-day festivities will culminate on "Saddula Bathukamma" or "Pedda Bathukamma" festival on Ashwayuja Ashtami, popularly known as Durgashtami which is two days before Dussehra. Bathukamma is followed by Boddemma, which is a 7-day festival. Boddemma festival that marks the ending of Varsha Ruthu whereas Bathukamma festival indicates the beginning of Sarad or Sharath Ruthu.
Bathukamma represents cultural spirit of Telangana. Bathukamma is a beautiful flower stack, arranged with different unique seasonal flowers most of them with medicinal values, in seven concentric layers in the shape of temple gopuram. In Telugu, ‘Bathukamma' means ‘Mother Goddess come Alive’ and Goddess Maha Gauri-‘Life Giver’ is worshipped in the form of Bathukamma – the patron goddess of womanhood, Maha Gauri Devi
It is the festival for feminine felicitation. On this special occasion women dress up in the traditional sari combining it with jewels and other accessories. Teenage Girls wear Langa-Oni/Half-Sarees/Lehenga Choli combining it with jewels in order to bring out the traditional grace of the attire.
The 2016 dates are September 30-October 9.
Vemulavaada Chalukya kings were sub-feudatories of Raastrakoota kings. In the wars between Chola kings and Raastrakootas these Chalukyas sided the Raastrakootas.
In 973 AD Rastrakoota sub-feudal chalukya lord Tailapudu-2 defeated the last king Karkudu-2 of raashtrakoota kings and established independent Kalyani Chalukya kingdom. The present Telangana region was under his authority. After the death of Tailapudu-2 in 997 AD his son Satyaasrayudu became the king.
In the erstwhile kingdom of Vemulavaada (present Karimnagar District), Rajarajeswara temple is popular. Rajarajeswara received worship from Telangana people as their beloved deity.
Chola king, Paraantaka Sundara Chola was in troubles while defending the attack from Raastrakoota kings. Learning that Rajarajeswara will help those in troubles Paraantaka chola turned as his devotee.
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Wikipedia