Festival of Bathukamma brightens Rameshwaram

The festival of Bathukamma, the vibrant floral celebration of Telugu community, was observed on Sept 28 with devotion and cultural joy at CMLA's Rameshwaram. The event drew nearly 250 participants, colorfully dressed in saris and kurtas. The event commenced with Swami Ishwarananda and Brni. Sandhya lighting the ceremonial lamp, invoking auspicious blessings.

At the heart of the celebration, Goddess Gowri (Gowramma), made with haldi, was placed atop the beautifully arranged floral stacks called Bathukamma. Women brought their Bathukammas to the event and placed them reverently in front of Devi, dancing joyfully around them. Ladies adorned in traditional pattu sarees and authentic jewelry added grace and color to the occasion as they sang and played devotional Bathukamma songs. Later, the lively kolatam dance brought added vibrancy and charm to the evening.

The program concluded with Aarthi, followed by the traditional Nimmajjanam (immersion of Bathukamma), symbolizing gratitude and reverence to Mother Nature.

The celebration beautifully reflected the cultural richness of the Telugu community and the joy of collective devotion. A heartfelt thank you to the many Chinmaya volunteers and JCHK students whose dedicated support with setup, organization, and clean-up ensured the success of this memorable evening.

--Swetha Madishetty