Bathukamma

The origin of Bathukamma is unknown. Many myths exist from loose references to Chola king Rajarajeswara's campaigns to other forms of worship. It is widely perceived as a form of simple worship of local mother goddesses prevalent in the Deccan region. For Bathukamma, Bonalu are presented to the local goddess of the village which could be any of Pochamma, Yellamma, Peddhamma, Dokkalamma, Ankalamma, Poleramma, Maremma, Nookalamma, Chowdeswari &c. along with more known forms of Shakti such as Durga, Kali, Jogulamba and Parvati. These goddesses protect villages from the top of the hill or the lake bed or the village center or a large tree or any other point of geographical prominence. Their origin stories usually include simple conversations with deities about the welfare of the village. [7]The plurality of Hindu religion has helped incorporate them as goddesses of power and security, thus adding them to the pantheon of Parvati/Shakti forms. [8] The status of these non canonical forms were mostly ignored by the government, including that of the erstwhile state of Andhra Pradesh. With the formation of Telangana, the festival of Bathukamma is added to the state festivals and canonized into the uniquely evolved form present today. [9]

Early human societies built cultural practices revolving around their way of life and beliefs. With civilization came concrete forms of worship which mostly alienated the public from the gods by incorporating them into a singular religion. In contrast, Hinduism continues its plurality albeit at some damage to the simplicity of worship. [10]In its rudimental state, Bathukamma can easily be interpreted as probably one of the oldest forms of major festivals in India. The simple act of offering the flowers and food from the rich abundance of greenery in the monsoon, along with the first grains of produce, to the deities, is a very fundamental form of worship. Mother goddesses of various tribes in central India continue to be worshipped similarly with the first flowers of the region such as at the Sarhul festival in Jharkhand. [11] [12] Considering these goddesses as protectors doesn't alienate them from the people. The goddesses are believed to be a part of everyone's family with the women often offering clothes, flowers and food to their goddesses along with the other female members of the family. For example, a bonam of 108 different delicacies are offered to the goddess Chowdamma at Chowduwada, Visakhapatnam district in the neighboring state of Andhra Pradesh.[13]

The word Bathuku means 'Life' in Telugu and Amma means 'Mother'. Bathukamma is the festival of life celebrated by women by worshipping with the powerful local goddesses across the state of Telangana.

On first five days women will clean their vakili (courtyard), cow dung mixed with water is spread in the courtyard as a ground-base, decorate the ground-base with managala aakara or muggu patterns or rangoli made of rice flour. For the first five days Batukamma is prepared with cow dung. Five small lumps in cone shape are arranged in the vakili.

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.

Telangana Women Celebrating Bathukamma

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.[14]

• 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 Aswwayuja masam.

Food offering/Naivedyam: muddapappu (softened boiled lentils), milk and bellam (jaggery)

• Nanabiyyam Bathukamma: The fourth day falls on thidiya/third day of Aswayuja masam.

Food offering/Naivedyam: nananesina biyyam (wet rice), milk, and bellam (jaggery)

• Atla Bathukamma: The fifth day falls on the chathurdi/fourth day of Aswayuja masam.

Women celebrating Batukamma in 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 Aswayuja masam.

No food offering is made.

• Vepakayala Bathukamma: The seventh day falls on the sashti/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 Durgastami. 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. Guramma (a symbolic idol of Gowri 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.

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.

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Bathukamma means ‘come back to life mother’ and it is an asking for Goddess Sati to return. Legend has it that Sati returned as Goddess Parvati and therefore the festival is also dedicated to Goddess Parvati.[15]

There are many myths behind this festival. According to one myth Goddess Gauri killed 'Mahishasura' the demon after a fierce fight. After this act, she went to sleep on the 'Aswayuja Padyami', due to fatigue. The devotees prayed to her to wake up, and she woke up on the Dasami.

The other being Bathukamma, as the daughter of the 'Chola' King 'Dharmangada' and 'Satyavati'. The king and queen lost their 100 sons in 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 oblige them. When Lakshmi was born in the royal palace, all the sages came to bless her and they blessed her with immortality "Bathukamma or Live Forever". Since then Bathukamma festival is celebrated by young girls in Telangana. 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 good health and prosperity of their families.

Bathukamma or 'Shakthi', 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 '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 entertainments as thousands of tourists and locals too, flock to witness the happenings. 'Jataras' are also held during this month long celebrations..

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bathukamma.

• Bathukamma Official site
• The festival of Flowers
• The Hindu feature
• DJ Bathukamma Song 2018 on YouTube Hmtv