Bathukamma festival celebrated at Meadowvale Park in Mississauga (city), Ontario (Province) on September 19th, 2015 gave an impression of a Telangana village air dropped in Canada. Telangana Development Forum, Canada (TDF) Greater Toronto Area (GTA) chapter organized the Annual Bathukamma festival with such traditional flavor that everyone who participated were found awestruck and felt so happy to be part of this event. The day reflected great Telangana tradition and rich culture in every essence of Festival, songs, plays, dressing, food, friendship and every bit of its walk and talk.
The turnout was around 500 and besides the Telanganite families turned up in huge numbers participants also included non Telanganites and some local ethnic community families too, who were so impressed with the Bathukamma “ata” ,”pata” (play, song) and the rich tradition. Women from Families of Telangana origin made colorful bathukammas from attractive seasonal flowers and leaves, assembled at the venue and celebrated the festivities by using Native Telangana clapping and circling around bathukammas by singing Bathukamma songs. Later the bathukammas were bid farewell for the year by immersing them in the creek. On this occasion, Elders explained the significance of Bathukamma festival in the Telangana tradition and life style to young generation, who were keen on knowing every aspect of the festivity. Later the participants were treated to the delicious Telangana food that reminded everyone to “amma chethi vanta” (“food cooked by mother”).
Ontario provincial associate minister Ms. Dipika Damerla was the chief guest on the occasion. She praised the Bathukamma festival and its importance in keeping the Telangana community together over generations. She congratulated the organizers for the successful conduct of the event on such a grand scale, and made it a point that these organizers are exemplary for conducting an event in such a native style and fervor.
Noted Telangana Film and documentary maker Dulam Satyanarayana was the guest of honor on the occasion. He was so much impressed with the conduct of the event that he decided to make a full length documentary on “Festivals by Indians on foreign soil”. Special invitees included Muslim brothers from Telangana who were able to connect this event to the age old “Ganga Jamuna Tehjeeb “of that made a strong between the Hindu and Muslim communities of Telangana for generations.
After recreational activities, all families returned home with unforgettable memories of the event along with gift hamper sent by Department of Culture and Tourism, Government of Telangana.
Organizers thanked everyone for their participation and making the event a grand success. They vowed to take this momentum forward in organizing more events that propel the rich and grand Telangana culture and tradition.