Ontario comes alive with Bathukamma

Families of Telangana origin celebrate the signature festival of youngest Indian State with pomp and gaiety

Hyderabad: Bathukamma festival celebrated at Meadowvale Park in Mississauga (city), Ontario (Province), on September 19 gave an impression of a Telangana village recreated in Canada. According to a press note is- sued by the government the Telangana Development Forum, Canada (TDF) Greater Toronto Area (GTA) Chapter organised the annual Bathukamma festival with traditional flavor.

The day reflected the Telangana tradition and culture in every essence of the festival, be it songs, plays, dressing, food, friendship or every bit of its walk and talk. Telangana families turned up in huge numbers so also non- Telanganaites and some local ethnic community families.

Women from families of Telangana origin made colorful Bathukammas from attractive seasonal flowers and leaves, as- sembled at the venue and cele- brated the festivities by using native Telangana clapping and circling around Bathukammas by singing folk songs.

Later, the Bathukammas were given farewell for the year by immersing them in the creek. On the occasion, elders explained the sig- nificance of Bathukamma festival.

Later the participants were treated to delicious Telangana food. Ontario Provincial Associate Minister Dipika Damerla, who was the chief guest, ex- plained about Bathukamma fes- tival and its importance in keep- ing the Telangana community together over generations.

She congratulated the organisers for the successful conduct of the event on such a grand scale. Noted Telangana film and documentary maker Dulam Satyanarayana was the guest of honor.

He was impressed with the conduct of the event and decided to make a full length documen- tary on ‘Festivals by Indians on Foreign Soil’.

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