2014 produced one more new milestone in the History of Telangana Culture abroad and first after formation of new state Telangana.
Bathukamma Festival was celebrated by Silicon Valley in a distinct grandeur on 28th afternoon as part of Silicon Valley Navarathri Celebrations by Telangana Cultural Association. This was 10th Bathukamma Festival being organized by TCA and achieves significance.
The week long celebrations held with kick off Yengili Puvvu festival at San Ramon on 20th September and Final day as Saddula Bathukamma in Sunnyvale on 28th September.
Bay Area Mega Bathukamma Festival 2014 as it was called by has attracted more than 1500 people to play the traditional Bathukamma Festival on September 28th at Ortega Park, Sunnyvale, California. The months of September, October, and November bring an aura of celebration in the air across Indian Community in USA with many festivals, variety of foods, new clothes and biggest of all an occasion for families and friends to get together, and also to pass the culture and values to next generation.
The Bathukamma and Navarathri festival season was started with Gowri Puja. The Ortega Park circular Gazebo was filled with women dressed in traditional way by wearing colorful saris and girls in Parikinis. Majority of the men came in traditional dresses while rest had their own choice for comfort on a very sunny and clear day. The very big Park in the midst of the town turned out to become pale in front of the colors thrown by colorful women in Sarees and Bathukammas. The park was filled with all sorts of colors with Bathukamma and colorful dresses of Indian folks.
TCA has conducted a Bathukamma Workshop event explaining the significance of the Bathukamma Festival and training Kids and Women on how to make Bathukamma. The Team of TCA volunteers led by Saideesh Ajjan, Baleswar Indharapu, Bhaskar Bandikallu Raju Yasala, Praveen Thokala collected tradional flowers including gunugu puvvu etc, from different markets around valley a day before .
Bhaskar Maddi who is the current President of the Organization has moderated the festival along with support of Chandu Siramdas and Mahipal Annam for San Ramon event. The team of TCA volunteers made excellent arrangements for food which filled the part of aura in the park.
The festival started at 11.30 AM with performing Gowri puja. Women of all ages and young girls stood in a circular fashion around the pooja spot.
Around 1.30 PM the venue was filled more than 1300 people, while some where feasting the delicious lunch many were dancing in circles around the Bathukammas with cheerful songs blazing out of the speakers, Eye catching events like “Bathukamma Coloring Workshop” for Kids and “Bathukamma Quiz Competition” for elders organized by Uday Kiran Jonnala.
There was special Kollatam performance by kids at the event.
Kids from all aged came willingly to sing, dance and volunteer which motivates TCA organization efforts to preserve and pass on culture to next generation.
Many of the gathered felt nostalgic, and for some the circular venue and colorful women folks reminded the Padmakshi amma gutta which is famous for Bhatukamma in Warangal in particular and north Telangana in general.
Everyone in the gathering was seen discussing the beautiful memories from the child hood in rural side and men were discussing current political scenario in the state. Some of the elders who were on visit were seen explaining on why women folks in Telangana do this festival for health, wealth and long lives of their husbands and families they already started inquiring for next year Bathukamma Festival. TCA team truly promoted Bathukamma Festivals without boundaries, and made it an occasion to bring all people of different regions, language, and nationalities onto one festival platform.
A group of elderly women led by TCA team were requested to act as judges to select the well-made Bathukammas out of the many Bathukamms at the venue. The top ten selected Bathukammas were given awards by the judges. Raffle prizes were also distributed during the festivities.
Prominent Telanganites and volunteers who helped the vent are: Vijay Chavva, Prasad Gattu, Biksham Palabindela, Buchanna Gajula, Srinivas Gujju, Natraj Adike, Surendar Penchala, Bhaskar Bandikallu. And supported by other volunteers Satya Vatti, Srinivas Chinta, Venkat Panchumarthi, Venkat Kurra, Sai Rajesh, Chakri Ravada, Babu Movva, Anil, Anand, Pardhu, Mahipal Annam, Madhukar Nalamachu, Sridhar Kamishetty, Anil Naginoori
Hon’ble first CM of Telangana Sri Kalavakuntla Chandra Shekar Rao has sent in a special message on the occasion Bay Area’s 10th Bathukamma Festival.
Sri KCR was invited to this festival through a personal meeting by a team of TCA leaders led by Vijay Chavva and Buchanna Gajula but he conveyed his inability to attend the occasion due to prior commitment.
TCA thanked all participants and sponsors for making it a momentous event.