NorrisKruttschni at 05:36, 25 November 2025

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{{Short description|Flower festival in India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2020}}
{{More citations needed|date=October 2020}}{{Infobox holiday
| holiday_name = Bathukamma
| type = Floral(flower) Festival of [[Parvati|Gauri]]
| image = బతుకమ్మ.jpg
| caption = Bathukamma
| official_name = Batukamma
| nickname =
| begins = Pitru Amavasya
| ends =
| date =
| date2006 =
| date2007 =
| date2023 = 14 Oct (Sat) – 22 Oct (Sun)
| celebrations = 9 days
| observances = {{bulleted list
|[[Telangana]]
|[[Andhra Pradesh]]
}}
| duration = 9 days
| frequency = Annual
}}

'''Bathukamma''' is a flower-festival celebrated by [[Telugu people|Telugu]] [[Hindus|Hindu]] women of [[Telangana]] and some parts of [[Andhra Pradesh]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/gk-and-current-affairs/story/bathukamma-festival-267898-2015-10-13 |title=Bathukamma festival begins in Telangana |access-date=12 July 2016 |archive-date=16 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171216192750/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/education/story/bathukamma-festival/1/497520.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>[http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/chinese-guests-to-savour-telanganas-flavour-this-bathukamma/article8771530.ece Chinese guests to serve Telangana’s flavour this Bathukamma].</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/bathukamma-2017-know-how-the-festival-is-celebrated-in-telangana-andhra-pradesh/863649/|title=Bathukamma 2017: Know how the festival is celebrated in Telangana, Maharashtra and Karnataka|date=2017-09-20|work=The Financial Express|access-date=2018-10-17|language=en-US}}</ref> Every year this festival is celebrated as per the [[Shaka era|Sathavahana]] calendar for nine days starting on Pitru Amavasya, which usually coincides with the months September–October of the Gregorian calendar. Bathukamma is celebrated for nine days and corresponds to the festivals of [[Navaratri|Sharad Navratri]] and [[Durga Puja]]. It starts on the day of Mahalaya Amavasya and the 9-day festivities culminate on "Saddula Bathukamma" or "Pedda Bathukamma." Bathukamma is followed by ''Boddemma'', which is a 7-day festival. The Boddemma festival that marks the ending of Varsha Ruthu whereas Bathukamma marks the beginning of Sarad or Sharath Ruthu.

In Telugu, ‘Bathukamma' means ‘Mother Goddess come Alive’.
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 a temple [[gopuram]]. It is usually brothers who bring flowers to their mother and sisters to arrange bathukamma.

Historically, Bathukamma meant "the festival of life". It also marks the celebration of femininity in the Deccan region, during which women of Telangana dress up in traditional saris, with jewels and other accessories. Teenage Girls wear Langa-Oni/[[Langa voni|Half-Sarees/]]Lehenga Choli with jewels in order to bring out the traditional grace of the attire.

'''9 Nights of Bathukamma'''

* Day 1: Engili pula Bathukamma<ref>{{cite news |last1=Velugu |first1=V6 |title=Significance Of Engili Pula Bathukamma |url=https://www.v6velugu.com/significance-of-engili-pula-bathukamma |work=V6 Velugu |date=28 September 2019 |language=te}}</ref>
* Day 2: Atukula Bathukamma
* Day 3: Muddapappu Bathukamma
* Day 4: Nanabiyyam Bathukamma
* Day 5: Atla Bathukamma
* Day 6: Aligina Bathukamma or (Alaka bhathukamma)
* Day 7: Vepakayala Bathukamma
* Day 8: Vennela muddala Bathukamma
* Day 9: Saddhula Bathukamma

Bathukamma represents cultural spirit of Telangana. It, along with the festivals of [[Bonalu]], [[Sammakka Saralamma Jatara]] gained increased significance during the [[Telangana movement]] as a marker of the region's separate cultural identity from Andhra Pradesh, and its celebration has become much more prominent with the [[Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014|secession of Telangana from Andhra Pradesh in 2014]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Inukonda |first=Sumanth |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=40qxDwAAQBAJ&dq=bathukamma+telangana+identity&pg=PT82 |title=Media, Nationalism and Globalization: The Telangana Movement and Indian Politics |date=2019-09-23 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |isbn=978-0-429-53564-2 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Prasad |first=Krishna |date=26 September 2017 |title=Like Tilak, we'll promote culture to cement our Telangana identity |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/like-tilak-well-promote-culture-to-cement-our-telangana-identity/articleshow/60837439.cms |website=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Bathukamma Essence |url=http://telanganatourism.gov.in/bathukamma/essence-of-bathuku.html |archive-url=http://telanganatourism.gov.in/bathukamma/essence-of-bathukamma.html |archive-date=2017-09-19 |access-date=2017-09-19 |website=telanganatourism.gov.in}}</ref>
[[File:AM2A7443.jpg|thumb|Cheneta Bathukamma Celebrations 2025 were held in London under Telangana Association of United Kingdom.]]

== Chalukyas of Vemulavada ==

[[Chalukyas of Vemulavada]], based in [[Vemulawada, Rajanna Sircilla district|Vemulawada]] were feudatories of [[Rashtrakuta dynasty|Rashtrakuta]] kings. In the wars between Chola kings and Rashtrakutas these Chalukyas sided the Rashtrakutas.
At 973 AD, Rashtrakuta feudal Chalukya lord [[Tailapa II]] defeated the last king [[Karka II|Karka-II]] of Rashtrakuta kings and established independent Kalyani Chalukya kingdom. After the death of [[Tailapa II]] in AD 997 his son [[Satyashraya]] became the king. In the erstwhile kingdom of Vemulavaada (present [[Rajanna Sircilla]] District), [[Raja Rajeswara Temple, Vemulawada|Sri Raja Rajeshwara Temple]] is popular. Chola king, [[Parantaka Chola II|Parantaka Sundara Chola]] was in trouble while defending the attack from Rashtrakuta king. Learning that Rajarajeshwara will help those in troubles Parantaka Chola turned as his devotee.
Also, he named his son as Raja Raja. This is evident from Arikesari epigraph. [[Rajaraja I|Raja Raja Chola I]] ruled between AD 985 and 1014. His son [[Rajendra Chola I]] attacked as the Chief of Army and stood victorious on [[Satyashraya|Satyasraya]], the Western Chalukya king. As a sign of his victory he destroyed Rajeshwara's temple and took the Bruhat (huge) Shiva linga to his father as a gift. In 1006 AD, Raja Raja Chola had started building a temple to this huge Shivalinga (Brihadeswara). In 1010 AD, he installed this Linga in [[Brihadisvara Temple]]. Chola kings also announced in Tamil epigraphs that this Brihadeswara temple is built from the wealth looted in the attack on Vemulavaada Chalukya kingdom.

Even now the similarities between the Shivalinga of Vemulavaada Bheemeshwaralayam and Shivalinga of Brihadeeswaralayam <ref>{{Citation |title=Brihadisvara Temple |date=2025-04-15 |work=Bharatpedia |url=/wiki/Brihadisvara_Temple |access-date=2025-05-23 |language=en}}</ref>of Tanjavuru can be seen. Taking away the Shivalinga from Vemulavaada to Tanjavuru downhearted people of the Kingdom. After leaving the Kingdom, in the form of Linga, along with an attempt to console Paarvathi (Bruhadamma) in the temple here and to inform sorrowfulness to Cholas, Batukamma is arranged with flowers like Meru mountain. On its top Gouramma made with turmeric is placed and is recounted with sing and play for nine days. Dispatching her in water and calling her back took a shape of a festival.

==Preparation==

Men in the house gather flowers Bathukamma flowers from the wild plains like Celosia, Senna, Marigold, Chrysanthemum, Indian Lotus, Cucurbita leaves & flowers, Cucumis Sativus leaves & flowers, [[Memecylon edule]], Tridax procumbens, Trachyspermum ammi, Katla, Teku Flowers, etc., which bloom in this season in various vibrant colors all across the uncultivated and barren plains of the region.

Preparing a Bathukamma is a folk art. Women start preparing Bathukamma from the afternoon. They cut the flowers leaving the little length base, some dip Gunugu ([[Celosia]]) flowers in various vibrant colours, some scented and arrange them on a wide plate called ''Thambalam''.

The songs are to invoke the blessings of various goddesses.

[[File:Batukamma2-1.JPG|thumb|right|260px|Telangana Women Celebrating Bathukamma]]
[[File:Bathukamma Immersion in Hyderabad, India.jpg|260px|thumb|Bathukamma immersion in [[Hyderabad]]]]
Each day has a name mainly signifying the type of "naivedyam" (food offering) offered. Most of the naivedyam offered are very simple to prepare, and usually young children or young girls are mainly involved in the preparation of the offerings for the first eight days of the festival. The last day, called saddula Bathukamma is when all the women take part in the preparation. Following is the list of names for each day and the naivedyam offered on that day.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/gk-current-affairs/story/bathukamma-festival-267898-2015-10-13 | title=Bathukamma festival begins in Telangana: All you need to know | date=13 October 2015 | work=India Today | access-date=20 February 2020 }}</ref>

* Engili pula Bathukamma- The first day of the festival falls on Mahalaya Amavasya, also known as Pethara Amavasya in Telangana region.
Food offering/Naivedyam: Nuvvulu (Sesame seeds) with biyyampindi (rice flour) or nookalu (coarsely ground wet rice).
* Atkula Bathukamma: The second day is called Atkula bathukamma, falls on the Padyami (first day) of Ashwayuja masam.
Food offering/Naivedyam: Sappidi pappu (Bland boiled lentils), bellam (jaggery), and atkulu (flattened parboiled rice)
* Muddapappu Bathukamma: The third day of Bathukamma falls on Vidiya/second day of Ashwayuja masam.
Food offering/Naivedyam: muddapappu (softened boiled lentils), milk and bellam (jaggery)
* Nanabiyyam Bathukamma: The fourth day falls on thidiya/third day of Ashwayuja masam.
Food offering/Naivedyam: nananesina biyyam (wet rice), milk, and bellam (jaggery)
* Atla Bathukamma: The fifth day falls on the chaturthi/fourth day of Ashwayuja masam.

[[File:Batukammain AP.png|thumb|264x264px|Women celebrating Batukamma in [[Prakasam district|Prakasam]] District of Andhra Pradesh]]
Food offering/Naivedyam: uppidi pindi atlu (pan cakes made from wheatlets), or Dosa
* Aligina Bathukamma: The sixth day falls on the panchami/fifth day of Ashwayuja masam.
No food offering is made.
* Vepakayala Bathukamma: The seventh day falls on the shashti/sixth day of Ashwayuja masam.
Food offering/Naivedyam: rice flour shaped into the fruits of neem tree is deepfried.
* Vennamuddala Bathukamma: The eight day falls on sapthami/seventh day of Ashwayuja masam.
Food offering/Naivedyam: nuvvulu (sesame), Venna (Butter) or ghee (clarified butter), and bellam (jaggery)
* Saddula Bathukamma: The ninth day of bathukamma is celebrated on ashtami/eight day of Ashwayuja masam, and coincides with Durgashtami.
Food offering/Naivedyam: Five types of cooked rice dishes: perugannam saddi (curd rice), chinthapandu pulihora saddi (tamarind rice), nimmakaya saddi (lemon rice), kobbara saddi (coconut rice) and nuvvula saddi (sesame rice)

===Saddula Bathukamma===
This festival is celebrated for nine days and concludes on ''[[Durgashtami]]''. The last day of the festival is called ''Saddula Bathukamma''. On this final day immersion of Bathukamma (Bathukamma Visarjan) in water bodies is celebrated with utmost devotion and enthusiasm with rhythmic drum beats throughout Telangana. The evening offers a beautiful, calming and a peaceful visual treat.
Gauramma (a symbolic idol of Goddess [[Parvati]] made of turmeric) is taken back from Bathukamma before immersion and every married woman applies a paste of this, on her [[Mangala sutra]] that marks the solemnization of her marriage and also her husband is protected from all evils and ill fate.<ref>{{cite news |last1=India |first1=The Hans |title=Bruhathamma Brathukamma Bathukamma |url=https://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index/Hyderabad-Tab/2015-10-17/Bruhathamma-Brathukamma-Bathukamma/181367 |work=www.thehansindia.com |date=18 October 2015 |language=en}}</ref>

[[File:Maleeda.JPG|thumb|left|200px|Maleeda]]
For 9 days of festival each day a ''Nivedyam'' or a special dish [[sattu]] is prepared and offered to the goddess. General ingredients of the dishes are Corn (మొక్క జొన్నలు), Sorghum (జొన్నలు), Bajra (సజ్జలు), Black Gram (మినుములు), Bengal Gram (శనగలు), Green Gram (పెసర్లు), Ground Nuts (పల్లి), Sesame (నువ్వులు), Wheat (గోధుమలు), Rice (బియ్యము), Cashew Nut (Kaju), Jaggery (బెల్లం), Milk (పాలు) etc.
Maleeda - a combination of [[Roti]] and [[Jaggery]], is prepared on this day and distributed at the end of the event.

==Background==
{{Hinduism}}
Bathukamma means ‘Oh Mother, Please come back to life’ and it is asking for Goddess [[Sati (Hindu goddess)|Sati]] to return. Legend has it that Sati reincarnated as Goddess Parvati and therefore the festival is also dedicated to Goddess Parvati.<ref>[http://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index/Big-Story/2017-09-20/Bathukamma---Telanganas-Floral-Festival-is-here-/327865 Bathukamma - Telangana's Floral Festival is here]</ref>
Mahisasura was a buffalo demon.He prayed to [[Brahma]] that he should have knowledge of all mantras.The sages could not chant the hymns to appease the gods and the gods also lost most of their strength.It became like a drought, and people started drinking their own blood.The gods put all their strength into creating Goddess [[Durga]].According to one legend, she cried for nine days on seeing the plight of the people.On the tenth day [[Vijayadashami]] she kills Mahisasura.Bathukamma is celebrated to commemorate the nine days of [[Durga]] which she spent crying

There are many myths behind this festival. According to the popular legend, Goddess [[Durga]] killed a demon named Mahishasura after a fierce fight that lasted for 9 days. After this act, she went to sleep on the 'Ashwayuja Padyami' day, due to fatigue. The devotees prayed to her to wake up, and she woke up on the tenth day which is now celebrated as [[Vijayadashami|Vijaya Dashami]] or [[Vijayadashami|Dasara]]. {{citation needed|date=October 2024}}

The other is Bathukamma, the daughter of the Chola King Dharmangada and Satyavati. The king and queen lost their 100 sons on the battlefield and prayed to Goddess [[Lakshmi]] to be born in their house, as their child. Goddess Lakshmi heard their sincere prayers and chose to help them.She asked Satyavati to pluck fruits from a tree surrounded by snakes.Satyavati plucked many fruits, but while climbing down they all fell, except for one. When Lakshmi was born in the royal palace, all the sages came to bless her and blessed her with immortality "Bathukamma or Live Forever". Since then, young girls in Telangana have celebrated the Bathukamma festival. The purpose of this festival is to pray to the Goddess in the belief that the young girls would get husbands as per their wish, to teach the young girls how to take care of their in-laws, their husbands, be great women who respect elders, love people around them, be guides to their younger ones. Further, married women celebrate the festival to pray to the Goddess for the good health and prosperity of their families.

Goddess Gowri, according to one legend, is a lover of flowers. Flowers are arranged on a square wooden plank or a square bamboo frame with the size of frames tapering off to form a pinnacle on top. They resemble the shape of a temple tower ([[Gopuram|Gopura]]). Gauramma (a symbolic idol of Gowri made of turmeric) is placed on top of the flowers. This little floral mountain is worshipped as Goddess Bathukamma.

This festival is celebrated with joy and gaiety. During these celebrations, there are dance performances, music, dramas and a variety of entertainment as thousands of tourists and locals too, flock to witness the happenings. 'Jataras'<ref>{{Cite news |date=2016-02-15 |title=Jataras, a getaway from daily grind |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/jataras-a-getaway-from-daily-grind/article8242805.ece |access-date=2024-10-02 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> are also held during this month long celebrations.
==Guinness World Records==
Bathukamma Festival organised by the state Government, have set two new Guinness World Records on 29 September 2025. The two world records for its largest Bathukamma floral decoration consist of about seven tonnes of flowers and of 63.11 feet high, 11 feet wide. The second record for the highly synchronized performance by a large number of women of 1354.<ref name="Telangana’s 63-foot Bathukamma bursts into Guinness glory">{{cite news |last1= |first1= |title=Telangana’s 63-foot Bathukamma bursts into Guinness glory |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/telanganas-bathukamma-bursts-into-guinness-glory/article70109855.ece |access-date=1 October 2025 |publisher=The Hindu |date=29 September 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251001163335/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/telanganas-bathukamma-bursts-into-guinness-glory/article70109855.ece |archive-date=1 October 2025 |language=en-IN}}</ref> Guinness World Records officials declared the performance as a world record and presented certificates to ministers [[Jupally Krishna Rao]] Rao and [[Seethakka]]. Miss World 2025 [[Suchata Chuangsri]], Hyderabad Mayor Gadwal Vijayalaxmi and [[Vimalakka]] also graced the celebrations.<ref name="Bathukamma celebrations set a Guinness World Record">{{cite news |last1= |first1= |title=Bathukamma celebrations set a Guinness World Record |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/telangana/2025/Sep/30/bathukamma-celebrations-set-a-guinness-world-record |access-date=1 October 2025 |publisher=The New Indian Express |date=30 September 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251001163420/https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/telangana/2025/Sep/30/bathukamma-celebrations-set-a-guinness-world-record |archive-date=1 October 2025 |language=en}}</ref>

==References==
===Notes===
{{Reflist}}

===Sources===
* http://www.telangana.org/Bathukamma/Bathukamma_BayArea.htm {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221006032809/http://www.telangana.org/Bathukamma/Bathukamma_BayArea.htm |date=6 October 2022 }}
* A journey through change (http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2005/02/22/stories/2005022200770300.htm). The Hindu, 22 February 2005. Retrieved 6 October 2011.
* Savouring Telangana flavour in the US http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/Savouring-Telangana-flavour-in-the-US/article14849697.ece
* Joys of cooking (https://web.archive.org/web/20131015105412/http://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/Food/article799015.ece), The Hindu, 27 September 2010. Retrieved 6 October 2011.
* "Goddess Gauri" (https://web.archive.org/web/20071216181412/http://www.csuohio.edu/hindu/Gauri.htm%29.
* Grand finale to Bathukamma (http://www.hindu.com/2007/10/19/stories/2007101958130300.htm {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130507044155/http://www.hindu.com/2007/10/19/stories/2007101958130300.htm |date=7 May 2013 }}), The Hindu, 19 October 2007. Retrieved 6 October 2011.

==External links==
{{Commons category|Bathukamma}}
* [http://bathukamma.telangana.gov.in/ Bathukamma Official site]
* [http://www.telangana.org/Bathukamma/Batukamma.htm The festival of Flowers] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221006032808/http://www.telangana.org/Bathukamma/Batukamma.htm |date=6 October 2022 }}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20041112181337/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2004/10/21/stories/2004102100970100.htm ''The Hindu'' feature]



[[Category:Hindu festivals]]
[[Category:Festivals in Telangana]]
[[Category:Flower festivals in India]]
[[Category:Religious festivals in India]]
[[Category:September observances]]
[[Category:October observances]]

Bathukamma - Revision history

NorrisKruttschni at 05:36, 25 November 2025