Congress Govt plans Rio carnival-style Bathukamma festival

The Enforcement Directorate attached Rs. 4.8 crore worth properties of Mohd Munawar Khan and his wife Faiqa Taha Khan in a money laundering probe into the illegal sale of government and Bhoodan lands. The scam allegedly earned Rs. 6.45 crore

Hyderabad: In a rather perplexing move, the Congress government, which had scrapped the practice of distributing free sarees to women during Bathukamma, is now preparing to organise the festival on the scale of Brazil’s Rio Carnival.

Tourism Minister Jupally Krishna Rao told reporters on Monday that elaborate arrangements were being made this year to promote Bathukamma at an international level. “Bathukamma is a floral festival celebrated by women. It is not just a festival but the soul of Telangana,” he said.

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The celebrations will be held from September 21 to 30, beginning at the Thousand Pillar Temple in Warangal and culminating with a grand floral parade and floral holi at Tank Bund. On September 28, a record attempt will be made with the participation of at least 10,000 women at LB Stadium.

Rao added that under the new Tourism Policy, the government aims to attract Rs. 15,000 crore investment into the sector over the next five years and create employment for at least three lakh people.