Colourful celebrations in Peterborough for Bathukamma festival

There were special celebrations in Peterborough as the Bathukamma festival was marked.

Bathukamma is a colorful floral festival primarily celebrated in Telangana, India, especially by women. It holds cultural, spiritual, and ecological significance and is observed during the Navratri festival, typically in September or October. The word "Bathukamma" translates to "Mother Goddess, come alive," and the festival is dedicated to Goddess Gauri, symbolizing life and prosperity. The event also honors nature, with floral arrangements representing the goddess and celebrating the bond between humans and the environment.

Celebrations were held by Peterborough Telugu Sangham, which has hundreds of members in the city.

The centerpiece of the festival is a flower stack (referred to as Bathukamma), shaped like a temple tower, which is made up of several layers of locally sourced flowers such as marigolds, celosia, hibiscus, and more.

Women intricately arrange the flowers in a circular, cone-shaped pattern to symbolize the deity. The Bathukamma is usually built over a base of turmeric.

The flowers used in Bathukamma are mostly local, seasonal, and have medicinal properties. The ritual of immersing the flowers in water bodies is believed to enrich the water with medicinal qualities, thus creating a symbiotic relationship between people and nature.

This year's celebration was another successful event, held at Gladstone Community Hall with 170 attendees.

Organisers Rajni Reddy and Suma Putta said: “We would like to express sincere gratitude to everyone who attended. The women dazzled in their colorful sarees and jewelry, dancing beautifully around the flower arrangements. Prizes were awarded to those who crafted the best floral displays and actively participated in the dances, including Kolatam, a traditional stick dance.”