Hyderabad: Tank Bund turned into a sea of colour on Sunday evening as thousands of women gathered to celebrate Saddula Bathukamma, the grand finale of Telangana’s nine-day floral festival. Women carried colourful floral arrangements in a procession from the Martyrs’ Memorial to Bathukamma Ghat, where the festivities culminated in the final immersion.The celebrations at Tank Bund kicked off in the evening, with around 1,000 Bathukammas joining the procession. Nearly 700 folk artistes performed traditional art forms, including Perini, Gusadi, Oggu Dolu and Dappu. A laser show and fireworks rounded off the evening. HMDA put together a Bathukamma Carnival alongside the main event, with stalls showcasing Telangana’s food, handicrafts, handlooms, jewellery and other traditional products. The carnival also featured cultural performances, including ‘Oggu Katha’ and ‘Chindu Bhagavatam’.The scale of this year’s celebrations was evident elsewhere in the city as well. On Saturday, Union minister G Kishan Reddy unveiled a 72-foot floral Bathukamma at Amberpet Municipal Grounds in the presence of Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla. Earlier in the week, Malla Reddy Group of Universities organised its own celebrations, featuring a 65-foot Bathukamma and drawing more than 25,000 girl students.Bathukamma celebrations also extended beyond Telangana, with Telugu diaspora communities marking the festival in countries including Malaysia and the UAE. In Dubai, families gathered for celebrations organised by the Telugu Association of United Arab Emirates (TAUAE). On the same day, different communities came together to celebrate Bathukamma in Malaysia at an event organised by Federation of NRI Community Associations (FNCA). Traffic restrictions remained in place around Tank Bund and Necklace Road on Sunday. Police imposed diversions and designated parking zones to regulate traffic in the area.
Source link
