Bathukamma festival celebrated in Canada

Bathukamma festival celebrated at Meadowvale Park in Mississauga (city), Ontario (Province) on September 19 gave an impression of a Telangana village air-dropped in Canada.

The Telangana Development Forum, Canada (TDF) Greater Toronto Area (GTA) Chapter, organized the annual Bathukamma festival with 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 the festival, songs, plays, dressing, food, friendship and every bit of its walk and talk.

Telangana families turned up in huge numbers so also non-Telanganaites and some local ethnic community families too, who were impressed with the Bathukamma “aata” ,”paata” (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 given bid farewell for the year by immersing them in the creek.

On the 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 delicious Telangana food that reminded everyone to “amma chethi vanta” (“food cooked by mother”). Ontario provincial associate minister Dipika Damerla, who was the chief guest, explained about 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. He was impressed with the conduct of the event and decided to make a full length documentary on “Festivals by Indians on foreign soil”. (NSS)