When the Goddess blesses

Lalita Iyer Musings

The last time I really enjoyed the Bathukamma festival was when I travelled to Warangal, way back then. I reached early in the day and watched the Bathukamma being built. Seasonal flowers over seasonal flowers were stacked. The ladies then dressed up and I could hear the murmur of silk across the air. And then it was time for each lady to bring out her floral Bathukamma with a small turmeric Gowramma sitting atop the floral tribute.

It was one of the most calming influences. It is that season again. Bathukamma means "Mother Goddess, come alive" and hence this literally is a festival of life with a salute to the seasonal flowers, all with health benefits. Not surprisingly it is also the state flower festival of Telangana. These flowers are unique, brightly colored seasonal and wild blooms that grow abundantly across Telangana during the monsoon and post-monsoon season. They also fade off very early so for a fresh Bathukamma, timing matters.

Normally placed on a small bamboo plate, these are small, tender prayers to the Mother Goddess asking her to protect all and sundry. Since this festival is post monsoon, the rivers would have water in plentiful if not in spate and the floral message with a whispered wish in the air would go down the stream, the waters swallowing the offering. And since these were natural flowers nothing would happen to the water.

The main flowers used in Bathukamma are Tangedu poolu (Cassia auriculata), Gunugu poolu (Celosia argentea),  Banthi poolu (Marigold), bright yellow and orange flowers that bring bold color and positive energy, Chamanthi poolu (Chrysanthemum), Seetamma jada poolu (Cockscomb), Shankhu poolu (Butterfly pea), Blue or white petaled flowers, Teku poolu (Teak flowers), Seasonal tree blossoms, Gummadi poolu and Mandara poolu (Pumpkin flowers and Hibiscus), Large yellow or red blooms, and Tamara puvvu (Indian Lotus), s single lotus flower placed right at the very top of the conical stack to symbolize spiritual purity.

Other regional blooms maybe used (if in season) such as Kanakambaralu (Crossandra), Mallelu (Jasmine), Ganneru (Oleander), Katla, and Bera (Luffa/cucumber family flowers). But these days, there is a lack of forest cover and hence these flowers. Also with people being more busy building taller and broader Bathukammas, they have begun to use plastic, dyed flowers.

Luckily the folk songs are linked to the lore and while it is laced with death and sadness, it is also a prayer for revival. According to written sources, somewhere it says that King Dharmangada of the Chola dynasty prayed for a child. By the grace of Goddess Lakshmi, a girl named Bathukamma was born. After surviving many perils with the blessings of Goddess Gauri, she merged back into the divine, and women began celebrating her life and spirit with flowers.

Incidentally the State Government Bathukamma Festival also have set two new Guinness World Records on 29 September 2025. One is for its largest Bathukamma floral decoration consisting of about seven tonnes of flowers, at 63.11 feet high, 11 feet wide. The second record is for the highly synchronized performance by a large number of women of 1354. The Guinness World Records officials declared the performance as a world record and presented certificates.

The women journalists of Hyderabad also did one better and protested for the safety of women journalists across the nation and then they danced with great fervor and prayers to the Ammavaru

– Lalita Iyer 

  Senior Journalist