Bathukamma grand finale tomorrow: Chandulal

Tribal Welfare Minister A Chandulal today said the State festival Bathukamma is being celebrated in a grand manner in Telangana, Mumbai, Dubai and 18 States of America.

Addressing the media at the Secretariat along with Telangana Sanskrithika Sarathi Chariman and MLA Rasamayi Balakishan and Tourism secretary B Venkatesham here on Sunday, Chandulal said elaborate arrangements were being made for the festivities. In order to popularize the event, the TRS government plans it big to invite national and international media, he said. A reflection of rich culture, tradition and prominence to the world, the event is noted for involving most of the women, who are voluntarily participating in the festivities, he noted.

The nine-day festivities will culminate with “Saddula Bathukamma” on Hussain Sagar Tank Bund when women from every district throng it with a tableaux and artistes in big numbers, Chandulal stated. Over 30,000 women, including 2,000 artistes from the districts will participate in the event from LB Stadium at 4.30 pm on October 20 while Tank Bund, Necklace Road and Secretariat are illuminated with fluorescent lights to suit the occasion, he said. To mark the event, one lakh balloons and sky lanterns will be left into air, fire crackers will be burst for 15 minutes at Hussain Sagar and simultaneously at Durgam Cheruvu, Safilguda Mini Tank Bund and Saroornagar lake.

Balakishan said a Bathukamma sing and play program will be conducted at Ravindra Bharathi on October 19 besides conducting an all-India Poetesses conclave. For the first time, Ravindra Bharathi will be projected in 3D map to mark Bathukamma festival, he added. (NSS)