The New Jersey Telangana Association has organized Bathukamma celebrations at Johnson Park in Piscataway here. The scenic view of the Johnson Park and the huge Raritan Lake was a perfect setting and it reminded the tanks (cheruvulu) in villages. Though it was little cold and cloudy throughout the day, the event went well without any hassle.
Some 700 people of all ages participated in the celebrations and the event was a grand success. The day started early in people’s homes with everyone waking up early and collecting flowers for Bathukammas. The activity brought back memories from back home where children used to go to fields to collect various wild flowers like Gunugu Poolu, Thangedu Poolu and other domestic flowers like Beera Poolu and Cutley Poolu. Since they cannot get these flowers in North America, they have substituted them with locally available flowers.
The celebrations started at 12 Noon with a great feast, thanks to those restaurants Country Oven, Dakshin, Paradise Birayni, Coriander, Spice Zone and Bawarchi, who sponsored dishes. There were about 10 different dishes to choose from, including items such as Samosa, Roti, Vegetable Biryani, Pulihora, Curd Rice, Sweets and many other varieties of dishes. Bathukamma started at about 3 pm with women in traditional saris and colorful clothes with beautiful Bathukammas made of locally available flowers were placed in the center and women played around the Bathukammas.
It was a visual treat when women danced around Bathukammas with Bathukamma songs with the tune of “Bathukamma Bathukamma Uyyaalo.” Many felt nostalgic about the whole thing it brought back their childhood memories. Mimicry Ramesh from India, who attended Bathukamma enthralled audience singing Telangana Bathukamma songs with mimicry.
After plying for more than two hours, the ‘Bathukammas’ were bought to Raritan Lake shore singing Bahtukamma songs and immersed in the lake in traditional way. The women ceremoniously circled again sang and played for the well-being of their families and everyone in society.
Mimicry Ramesh explained to the gathering about significance of Bathukamma festival in the history and its importance. Mimicry Ramesh distributed prizes to Big Bathukamma 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes to Surekha Yerram, Sarithaand Suchitra. Also prizes for distributed to Unique Bathukamma 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes to Sumalatha Reddy, Jyothi Yashki, Pranitha.
The prominent people who attended the gathering were Ravi Thota, Narendar Reddy Yasa, Dr Purnachandar Sirikonda, Suresh Jilla, Parmesh Reddy, Damodhar Gedala and Satish Dasari. The success of the celebrations goes to volunteers Mahesh Pogaku, Bhaskar Bhupati, Ramesh Maganti, Rajam Chiluka, Ravi Peddi, Kishore Bhupati, Srikanth Goud Akkapalli, Pradeep Suwarna, Srikumar Tokala, Gurunadham Alampalli, Mohan Reddy Deshidi, Srinivas Gangoni and Prashanth Chintawar. The celebrations were organized by Sangeeta Dhannapuneni., Kalpana Suwarna, Kavita Peddi, Indu Basa, VidyaVenkatayogi, Sirisha Pogaku, Priya Akkapalli, Bhanu Maganti, Rani Velishala and Manjula Ganagoni. (NSS)
