Bathukamma is the biggest traditional festival of Telangana. The festivities were held for nine days till Saddula Bathukamma showed the life and culture of Telangana village to the world. The celebrations started with ‘Engili Pula Bathukamma’ and will continue non-stop for nine days. ‘Engili Pula’ Bathukamma celebrations were held in New Jersey in America. Ravi Dunnapuneni and Mahesh Pogaku have been organizing these ceremonies for 14 years. The program organized at John P. Stevens High School, Edition was held from 12.30 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. Women came to the courtyard with bathukammas and kept them together and went around singing songs and playing bathukamma. They left bathukammas in a pool set up nearby, praying Gauramma to keep their family members healthy and happy.
Organizers expressed their happiness over the success of Engili Pula Bathukamma despite the unfavorable weather. Everyone had their meal organized after Bathukamma and had a good time. Organizers say that these festivities will continue from ‘Engilipula’ to ‘Saddula Bathukamma’. Telangana Water Resources Development Corporation Chairman Veeramalla Prakash Rao and Public Utilities Commissioner Upendra Chivukula attended the first day of the ceremony. DJ Sahakaram Prasad and Mimicry Artist Ramesh’s performance made the audience laugh.
Pradeep Suvarna, Mahesh Togaku, Ravi Peddi, Bhaskar Bhupathi, Srinivas Bhartarvarapu, and Praveen Tadakamalla were among the people who organized the event under the leadership of Ravi Dunnapuneni. Guru Alampalli Indu Basa, Sangeetha Dhannapuneni, and Kalpana participated. The pictures taken by Dr. Shivakumar Anand turned out quite memorable.
