Batukamma is a Telangana Floral Festival and is the symbol of Telangana culture. Batukamma ( బతుకమ్మ) is the form of Goddess Gowri. Batukamma festival is a nine-day festival that begins on the Aswayuja Amavasya day. It ends on the Ashtami day in the same month. Batukamma, or the Gowri Devi, is created with many flowers on a brass plate, and on the tenth day of the festival, these are immersed in water bodies. This festival is usually celebrated in the months of September or October every year.
Batukamma festival is not only a tradition but has scientific reasons also. The flowers used in the arrangement of Batukamma are seasonal and have medicinal values. Common flowers used in the arrangement are ‘Tangedu(తంగెడు), Gunuka(గునుగు), Banti, Chemanti(చామంతి), Nandi Vardhanam etc.
The Gunuka flower has anti-diarrhea and anti-diabetic properties. Banti, or Marigold, is believed to prevent mosquitoes. Chemanti, or Chrysanthemum, is used as medicine for burns, injuries, eye-related diseases, and digestion problems. It also has antibacterial properties.
History of Batukamma: Many ancient stories tell us why the festival is celebrated. One such story is about a girl who commits suicide, unable to bear the bad deeds of the local landlord. The people in the village bless her as ‘Batukamma,’ which means' long live.’ Women pray to Goddess Gowri to give her blessings to their husbands and families.
Another legend about the Batukamma festival is like this: Dharmangada is the ruler of South India. He was childless, so he prayed to Gods and performed many rituals and Pujas. His wife became pregnant and gave birth to a baby girl. The girl is named Lakshmi. She was also given the name ‘Batukamma’ as she survived many accidents. She prayed to Goddess Gowri to give him a good husband, and this tradition continued.
Batukamma is a festival celebrated grandly across Telangana by young girls and married women. Married women pray for the welfare of their husbands and families, and young girls pray to the Goddess to bless them with good husbands. Men also have a role to play in the festival, collecting all varieties of flowers to be used in the arrangements of Batukamma. Batukamma is basically a festival to worship nature. The flowers, the earth, and the water are parts of the celebration of the festival.
Batukamma festival is not only a tradition but has scientific reasons also. The flowers used in the arrangement of Batukamma are seasonal and have medicinal values. Common flowers used in the arrangement are ‘Tangedu(తంగెడు), Gunuka(గునుగు), Banti, Chemanti(చామంతి), Nandi Vardhanam etc.
Batukamma is a Telangana Floral Festival
The Gunuka flower has anti-diarrhea and anti-diabetic properties. Banti, or Marigold, is believed to prevent mosquitoes. Chemanti, or Chrysanthemum, is used as medicine for burns, injuries, eye-related diseases, and digestion problems. It also has antibacterial properties.
History of Batukamma: Many ancient stories tell us why the festival is celebrated. One such story is about a girl who commits suicide, unable to bear the bad deeds of the local landlord. The people in the village bless her as ‘Batukamma,’ which means' long live.’ Women pray to Goddess Gowri to give her blessings to their husbands and families.
Another legend about the Batukamma festival is like this: Dharmangada is the ruler of South India. He was childless, so he prayed to Gods and performed many rituals and Pujas. His wife became pregnant and gave birth to a baby girl. The girl is named Lakshmi. She was also given the name ‘Batukamma’ as she survived many accidents. She prayed to Goddess Gowri to give him a good husband, and this tradition continued.
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Batukamma is a festival celebrated grandly across Telangana by young girls and married women. Married women pray for the welfare of their husbands and families, and young girls pray to the Goddess to bless them with good husbands. Men also have a role to play in the festival, collecting all varieties of flowers to be used in the arrangements of Batukamma. Batukamma is basically a festival to worship nature. The flowers, the earth, and the water are parts of the celebration of the festival.