Arrangements in place for Bathukamma festival

Warangal: District Collector G Kishan on Tuesday said elaborate arrangements were made for Bathukamma festival in Warangal district.

The Collector held a video-conference with the sarpanches and Tahsildars and asked them to contribute their bit for the celebration of Bathukamma festival in an enthusiastic manner since the State government declared the festival as a State function.

The government sanctioned Rs 10 lakh for the purpose. General funds wee available with the gram panchayats and 13th Finance Commission funds can also be used to make arrangements for the festival, Kishan said.

The local body officials and elected representatives should ensure hygeinic surroundings of tanks where women would immerse Bathukammas and also those places where they would celebrate Bathukamma during the nine days. Proper lighting and drinking water facilities should be provided, the Collector directed the officials.

The Collector and Dassera Utsav Committee members released a campaign poster on Devi Navaratri and Bathukamma celebrations at the Collector’s chamber. Arrangements were being made for immersion of Bathukammas at various places in Kazipet, Hanamkonda and Warangal on October 2 and for ‘Ravanasura Vadha’ to be held at Ursugutta at 7 pm on October 3.

A couple of days ago, Deputy Chief Minister T Rajaiah and the District Collector inspected the Bathukamma immersion sites in the city. They advised the Road and Buildings Department officials to put up barricades at immersion sites, NPDCL to arrange lighting, Health Department to make available ambulances and set up temporary clinics.

It was planned to identify other locations in the tri-cities and make arrangements for immersion of Bathukammas, besides overseeing the arrangements at Padmakshi tank which has been used traditionally by thousands of women to immerse Bathukammas.

Administration gears up for celebrations
Nirmal (Adilabad): Bathukamma festival holds a special significance in the lives of people of Telangana. Bathukammas are made with different flowers during the nine-day festival and women offer prayers to goddess Gauramma seeking her blessings for happiness and prosperity. Bathukamma festival is celebrated both in towns and villages in Telangana. With the government declaring Bathukamma festival as a State festival, the officials are making arrangements for organising the festival in every village.

All arrangements have been made for the conduct of Bathukamma festival at Nirmal town in Adilabad district. However, there is shortage of flowers like ‘Gonaka’ and ‘Tangedu’ in the town. Hence, people are showing interest in Bathukammas made with paper. Kodakala Narender, a local artisan, has been eking out a living for the last five years by making Bathukammas and selling them. With the government officially celebrating Bathukamma festival, Narender has decided to make more number of Bathukammas this year.

Call for making Bathukamma festival a success
Khammam: MEPMA project director and in-charge commissioner of Khammam Municipal Corporation Venu Manohar on Tuesday gave a call to women to make Bathukamma festival celebrations a grand success.

Venu Manohar held a meeting with women employees and voluntary organisations at a conference hall in the Khammam Municipal Corporation on Tuesday.

Speaking on the occasion, he sought cooperation of women for making Bathukamma festival a success.

As part of celebrations, Venu Manohar said a massive rally has been planned on September 24 in which women self-help groups would take part. He said rally would be organised from the office of the Khammam Municipal Corporation to Sri Gunti Malleswara Swamy temple. Later, women will take part in Bathukamma festival celebrations, he said.