Bathukamma Celebrations Grand Finale On October 20

Telangana Tribal Welfare Minister A Chandulal today said that the State festival Bathukamma was being celebrated in a grand manner in Telangana, Mumbai, Dubai and 18 States of America.

Addressing the media at the Secretariat along with Telangana Sanskrithika Sarathi Chairman and MLA Rasamayi Balakishan and Tourism Secretary B Venkatesham on Sunday, Chandulal said that elaborate arrangements were being made all over for the festivities.

In order to popularize the event, the TRS government had also invited the national and international media in a big way, he said.

A showcase for Telangana's rich culture, tradition and prominence to the world, the event was also noted for the huge involvement of the women of the State, who voluntarily participated in the festivities, he remarked.

The nine-day festivities would culminate with "Saddula Bathukamma" on Tank Bund on October 20 when women from every district would throng it, with tableaux and artistes adorning the venue in big numbers, Chandulal stated.

Over 30,000 women, as also 2,000 artistes from the districts, would participate in the event from 4:30 pm on October 20 at L B Stadium, while Tank Bund, Necklace Road and Secretariat would be illuminated with fluorescent lights to suit the occasion, he said.

To mark the event, one lakh balloons and sky lanterns would be let into the air and fire crackers would be burst for 15 minutes at Hussain Sagar, and simultaneously also at Durgam Cheruvu, the Safilguda Mini Tank Bund and the Saroornagar lake.

Balakishan said that a Bathukamma sing and play program would be conducted at Ravindra Bharathi on October 19 besides an all-India Poetesses' conclave.

For the first time, Ravindra Bharathi would be projected in a 3D map to mark the Bathukamma festival, he added.