Bathukamma celebrations held with pomp, grandeur in Abu Dhabi, Muscat

The floral festival conducted by Telangana Friends Association in Abu Dhabi drew hundreds of Telugu families, mostly young women on Saturday, who arrived with their flamboyant flower stacks

Jeddah: The enthusiasm of Telangana women for Bathukamma at home is not surprising, but the reflection of the same thousands of kilometres away in Gulf countries is indeed a surprise for many.

The floral festival conducted by Telangana Friends Association in Abu Dhabi drew hundreds of Telugu families, mostly young women on Saturday, who arrived with their flamboyant flower stacks.

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The Bathukamma procession was held amidst the Telangana Dappu, a folklore drum, played by Madiga community members. Popular folk singers Astha Gangadher and Teju Priya enthralled the audience with folk songs.

Senior Indian Diplomats Amarnath Ashokan and Dr. Balaji along with their spouses joined the festival and wives of diplomats also played Bathukamma, according to organisers.

“We have brought nearly three quintals of traditional flowers such as Tangedu, Gunugu and Gummadi from different parts of Telangana to UAE to celebrate the festival with the true spirt”, said Raja Srinivas Rao, president of Telangana Friends Association. This is an addition to locally available flowers, he added.

Telangana’s traditional snack, Sakinalu, a deep-fried, round concentric shape made with fresh ground rice flour, sesame and carom seeds, brought from Warangal added flavour to the Telangana festive environment.

The same zeal was demonstrated in Oman capital Muscat, where Oman Telangana Samiti held Bathukamma festival on Friday. Senior Diplomat of Indian Embassy, Tavishi Behal Pandey was chief guest. Prominent Omani businessman Talal Hamood Al Busaidi was the guest of honour.

The Telangana families from across the Sultanate participated in the event and a variety of flowers were collected from the Darfur region for the festival, said Telangana Samiti Convenor Gundeti Ganesh.