Bathukamma celebrated—reverence grows every year!
(Photos: Sridhar Vakiti and Pavan Tanguturu)
The favorite religious festival of Telangana Region in India is ‘Bathukamma Panduga.’ Observed during Navaratri, it honors the "life-giving Mother goddess" or Bathukamma. Women seek her blessings by making towers of flowers: the bathukamma has seven concentric layers of potter’s clay, like a cone, and is covered with seasonal flowers.
This festival of flowers is organized every year in Atlanta by Telangana Community, Inc. (TCI). The 7-day event was sponsored this year by American Telugu Association (ATA) and co-hosted by Greater Atlanta Telugu Association (GATA) and Telugu Association of Metro Atlanta (TAMA).
Attended by about 1000 men, women, and kids, celebrations started at 11 am on October 5, 2013 at South Forsyth Middle School as women brought colorful ‘bathukammas’ to the event; one remarkable one included a map of Telangana. Lunch, sponsored by Jaihind Groceries and Chaat House, was served from noon. When the crowd settled down in the hall, cultural programs began at 1:30 pm with Viju Chiluveru and Madhavi Gangasani welcoming the crowd and introducing the organizing crew and MCs of the day—Anitha Vangala and Madhurima Charugundla. After the lamp lighting, President of TCI Srijan Joginapally gave an overview of the organization’s activities and services.
Folk songs presented by Srinivas Durgam, Ram Durvasula, and Janardhan Pannela drew more crowds into the hall. A lambada dance, “Lalaguda Lambadi Pilla,” coordinated by Shirisha Mettupalli was applauded by everyone. Another folk dance, “Mallepoolu Vetti” by Snigda Nellutla, Srinidhi Vangala, and Srihitha Chakilam was truly a highlight. Second segment of songs included the only lady singer Bhanusri. Audience enjoyed select and relevant songs presented by the entire team, including “Gollamallamma Kodal” and “Maradalu Pilla.”
Ravi Chander and Vivek Reddy received ‘Community Person of the Year’ award presented by Dr. Sreenivas Gangasani and Narender Reddy. As Ravi Chandar was out of town, his wife Sushumna Roy received the award and said that her family is very proud to be associated with such a noble cause of supplying clean water to people in Telangana by building reverse osmosis plants. Vivek Reddy thanked the organization for recognizing his contribution to the community: he helped the rural girls with their education by donating bicycles, laptops, funds for books, etc.
All child artists received medals while adult artists, MCs, and coordinators were recognized by President of TAMA, Mahesh Pawar and Vice-President Sandhya Yellapragada.
A bathukamma contest was led by Ramadevi Boyapally with judges selected randomly from ladies in the audience, and winners (1st: Madhuri Madarapu, Sandhya Chiluveru; 2nd: Madhavi Vuppala, Lakshmi Busa, Twinkling Stars of Telugu; 3rd: Gowri Bathukamma, Kakatiya Queens Group, Reddy Dorsani Group, Roopa Pannela) received cups and medals presented by Ramadevi Boyapally, Lavanya Joginapally, Radhika Veeraneni, Neeraja Boyapally and Lavanya Nilagiri. Kids bathukamma contest was won by Nithya Marri, Bhargavi Gundla, Pavani Eega, and Varsha Katta.
Website Bonus Feature
Photo Galleries:
1) Sridhar Vakiti: http://www.vakiti.com/Events/Bathukamma-2013/n-KDc97/
2) Pavan Kumar Tanguturu: https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=E54FFBF8CC177AF4!812
TCI Activities:
Donations:
$5000/- to SPARSH - provides Hospice services to the terminally ill ( Cancer Patients)- S.P.Reddy
$30,000/- IMPACT – Cancer Care for Children
$1500/- Electrification in Pothareddypalli (Kallupally) village, Veenavanka Mandal in KNR district donated by Sri Laxma Reddy Paripati & Prashanth Reddy Paripati
Education:
$600/- towards cycles for Girl Children – Katkanipally , Karimnagar- Vivek Reddy
$500/- towards Books in Telangana Districts thru Telangana Netizens Forum
$1650/- Full fee support for Sai Medpally- Student of Pujya Shri Madhavanji College of Engineering and Technology (PJMS) LB Nagar, Hyderabad . – Anonymous Sponsor
$500/- Financial Aid to K. Mounika – Student of Bharat Institute of Engineering & Technology received aid– Anonymous Sponsor
Harika Reddy – pursuing CA- Donation of new lap top – Anonymous Sponsor
Financial Support:
$1000/ - to Prashanth Maringanti thru NATS , Atlanta
$900/- to Niveditha Sewa Ashram in Jagtial , Karimnagar- Srijan / Friends
Religious:
Donated $1900/ to Sree Seeta Ramachandra Swamy Devasthana Committee", Choutuppal, Nalgonda, A.P- towards Vigraha Prathistapana – Donor – Muscu Anantha Reddy
Water Projects:
Application under matching grant no: 79623 for 27 RO Plants has been approved, Work is in progress,
We take this opportunity to express our sincere thanks and appreciation for the untiring efforts of Rtn. Siva Kumar Narne (Rotary Club of Secunderabad West) & Rtn. Ravi Chander in coordinating with the Rotary Clubs in US and in India, overseeing the whole process from approval of Matching Grant to Installation of these RO Plants.
Recognitions:
Food:
ATA Board Member Karunakar Reddy Asireddy, presented a plaque to Srinivas and Shirisha of Jaihind Groceries for their generosity of supplying food during the event.
Membership:
Venkat Veeraneni, Vice President, in his message requested members of the community to come forward and make financial contribution by becoming members or a part of projects initiated by TCI, and Prabhakar Boyapally personally connected with everyone and got about 55 memberships within two hours time—a record.
Photographers:
Sridhar Vakiti and Pavan Tanguturu.
Sound:
Srinivas Durgam arranged the audio equipment for the event and also coordinated with other singers.
Volunteers:
Shekar and Prashanthi Reddy recognized all the volunteers of the day led by Mahesh Nilagiri, who is also the Treasurer of TCI.
Nanda Chatla, Raghu Banda, Chandrasekhar Palla, Srinivas Avula, Sunil Reddy Kuturu, Premdasu, Amrendar Reddy Bomyneni, Madav Kusum, Ajay, Anil, Raghu Gandra, Chandu, Pratap Gani, Rajesh Vaddi, Gautham Nyalakonda, Ritesh Sagi, Sridhar Edupalli, Anup Nilagiri, Ramgopal Madarapu, Chalapathi Vennamaneni, Sridhar Nelavelli.
Winners of Bathukamma contest:
First Prize (tied) - Madhuri Madarapu, Sandhya Chiluveru
Second Prize - Madhavi Vuppala, Lakshmi Busa, Twinkling Stars of Telugu,
Third Prize - Gowri Bathukamma, Kakatiya Queens Group, Reddy Dorsani Group, Roopa Pannela.
Enjoyed reading Khabar magazine? Subscribe to Khabar and get a full digital copy of this Indian-American community magazine.
