A flower festival honouring nature

The sprawling LB stadium was filled with fragrance emanating from flowers on Thursday on the occasion of Saddula Bathukamma. Some 35 tonnes of flowers were transported to the stadium from various parts of the State and a few of them were air lifted too. Women and children from all walks of life gathered, stacking the flowers in concentric circles, making Bathukammas in all sizes. The volunteers were part of Development of Women and Children in Rural Areas (DWCRA) and other Self Help Groups. Every hour, from 8 am to 4 pm, about 1,000 women prepared two Bathukammas each. Deputy Speaker Padma Devender Reddy and MP Kavitha were the first to perform puja. There was excitement all around. Preparations for the state festival went on a frenetic pace amidst songs like “Bathukamma Bathukamma Vuyyalo” and “Pasupulo Puttina Gowramma”. Bamboo was used as a base for 100 large sized Bathukammas. Radha, who is a Jagruthi convenor and a government school teacher, said, “The event was unbelievable. There was co-ordination among all government departments and it was just like a festival being celebrated at home.”

10 tableaux from each district in Telangana, depicting the cultural heritage, were part of the procession from LB Stadium to Tank Bund in the evening. The only blemish of the event was that unnatural colours were used to add richness to the flowers.

National Green Court director Prasanna Kumar said, “This is the festival which celebrates and honours nature. After the Tulip Festival in Holland this is the only festival which is celebrated only with flowers in nature’s honour.” These were the scenes at LB Stadium, the sporting venue, which transformed into a place of frenzied activity.