07 October 2013
Hyderabad

The Festival of Flowers “Bathukamma” was celebrated with great Pomp by Telangana Community, Atlanta on October 5, 2013 at South Forsyth Middle school. The event organized by 'Telangana Community Inc.(TCI) - www.telanganacommunity.org , Sponsored by ATA and co-hosted TAMA & GATA. More than 1000 People joined the celebrations with great enthusiasm and the event was more colorful with as many as fifty huge Bathukammas.

Bathukamma is a festival celebrated by the Hindu women belonging to ten Districts of Telangana, India. It is followed by Boddemma, which is a 7-day festival. This festival falls in the month of Ashwayuja. Bathukamma is celebrated for nine days during Durga Navratri, it starts on the day of Mahalaya Amavasya. It concludes two days before Dussera, called Durgashtami. On the final day, the closing ceremony of Bathukamma panduga is celebrated as a great festival – Pedda Bathukamma or Saddula Bathukamma. Bathukamma is a beautiful flower stack, arranged with seasonal flowers, in seven concentric layers, of potter’s clay like a cone. Bathuku in Telugu means live/life, and Amma means mother; hence Bathukamma, is celebrated for the glory, later denoted as Goddess Gauramma – the patron goddess of womanhood.

An innovative Bathukamma with the map of Telangana with Hyderabad as Capital was a special attraction. Songs by the ladies electrified the atmosphere that symbolizes the Cultural tradition of Telangana people. Lighting of the lamp was followed by melodious songs by DJ Srinivas Durgam & his team. Cultural & Janapada Dances by energetic children of different ages were fabulous and cheered by the audience. Everyone present at the venue enjoyed the delicious food served by Jai Hind Groceries & Restaurant. TCI President Mr.Srijan Joginapally in his presidential message presented the Developmental activities taken up by TCI in Telangana districts during the last fiscal year. Apart from promoting Telangana Culture abroad, TCI is heavily involved in charity work in Telangana region back home in India.

Community leader Mr. Narender Reddy in his message expressed his happiness in seeing this event grow bigger every year, which had mere 50 people attendance back in 2006. Like every year TCI honored Special persons, Mr. Ravi Chander & Mr. Vivek Reddy for their tireless Community services. Mr. Narender Reddy presented the award to Mr. Ravi Chander, who had exhibited true commitment in building Reverse Osmosis plants back home and people of his caliber make difference to the society. Dr. Sreeni Gangasani presented the award to Mr. Vivek Reddy Edula, who had helped the rural masses by providing necessary aids for getting better education, He has helped girl students by donating Bi-cycles, lap top’s, funds for books etc.

Every year TCI holds a contest to encourage women to arrange beautiful Bathukammas. Led by Rama Reddy Boyapally, this contest was judged by several ladies, selected randomly from the audience.

This year Mini Bathukamma Contest was added to encourage the younger children which received a great attention of the audience. The First, second and third prize winners.

Bathukamma Prizes:
First Prize - Madhuri Madarapu, Sandhya Chiluveru ( tied for the first place)
Second Prize - Madhavi Vuppala, Lakshmi Busa, Twinkiling Stars of Telugu,
Third Prize - Gowri Bathukamma, Kakathiya Queens Group, Reddy Dorasani Group, Roopa Pannela

Kids Bathukamma Prizes
Nithya Marri, Bhargavi Gundla, Pavani Eega, Varsha Katta

Mr. Venkat Veeraneni , Vice-President TCI, thanked the battery of Volunteers and community leaders included Smt. Madhavi Gangasani, Anitha Nellutla, Rama Devi Boyapally, Viju chiluveru, Mahesh Niligiri for their contributions in making the event a great success. There were numerous more volunteers without whose efforts the event could not have succeeded, some of them are listed here; Nanda Chatla,Srinivas Avula, Sunil Reddy Kuturu, Premdasu, Amrendar Reddy Bomyneni, Madav Kusum, Ajay, Anil Boddireddy, Raghu Gandra, Chandu, Pratap Gani, Rajesh Vaddi, Gautham Nyalakonda, Ritesh Sagi, Raghu Banda, Sridhar Edupalli, Anup Nilagiri, Ramgopal Madarapu, Chalapathi Vennamaneni, Sridhar Nelavelli.

The organizers take this opportunity to thank all the volunteers and apologize for any inadvertent errors, omissions.

TCI Activities
Donations:
$5000/- to SPARSH - provides Hospice services to the terminally ill ( Cancer Patients)- S.P.Reddy
$30,000/- IMPACT – Cancer Care for Children
$1500/- Electrification in Pothareddypalli (Kallupally) village, Veenavanka Mandal in KNR district donated by Sri Laxma Reddy Paripati & Prashanth Reddy Paripati

Financial Support :
$1000/ - to Prashanth Maringanti thru NATS , Atlanta
$900/- to Niveditha Sewa Ashram in Jagtial , Karimnagar- Srijan / Friends

Education:
$600/- towards cycles for Girl Children – Katkanipally , Karimnagar- Vivek Reddy
$500/- towards Books in Telangana Districts thru Telangana Netizens Forum
$1650/- Full fee support for Sai Medpally- Student of Pujya Shri Madhavanji College of Engineering and Technology (PJMS) LB Nagar, Hyderabad . – Anonymous Sponsor
$500/- Financial Aid to K. Mounika – Student of Bharat Institute of Engineering & Technology received aid– Anonymous Sponsor
Harika Reddy – pursuing CA- Donation of new lap top – Anonymous Sponsor

Water Projects :
Application under matching grant no: 79623 for 27 RO Plants has been approved, Work is in progress,We take this opportunity to express our sincere thanks and appreciation for the untiring efforts of Rtn. Siva Kumar Narne (Rotary Club of Secunderabad West) & Rtn. Ravi Chander in coordinating with the Rotary Clubs in US and in India, overseeing the whole process from approval of Matching Grant to Installation of these RO Plants.

Religious : Donated $1900/ to Sree Seeta Ramachandra Swamy Devasthana Committee", Choutuppal, Nalgonda, A.P- towards Vigraha Prathistapana – Donor – Muscu Anantha Reddy

TCI board thanks all attendees, volunteers , Donors and the community for their support throughout the years.