Telangana Chaitanya Sravanthi, TCS-Kuwait celebrated their unique iconic Bathukamma Festival in the evening on 12th October, 2018 in the Fintas Wedding Hall, Kuwait with a large presence of its members and their families along with the invited guests.
The Bathukamma celebrations began with the lighting of the Bhadradeepam by the Senior & Council members Smt. Sri JRK Reddy, Smt. Sri E Prabakar, Smt. Sri A Kondal Reddy, Smt. Sri O Remesh and Smt. N Suresh followed by a Prayer Song sang by two lovely children Saanvitha and Achintya. They further requested to all the respected elders and children present to keep the environment and the hall clean and neat with the spirit of swatchatha, that is cleanliness. Sri R.Sharma garu performed the puja. The members sang the Telangana song with usual enthusiasm and the spirit of commitment.
Sri P Surendar garu and Sri Laxma Reddy garu, the duo of comperes of the program welcomed all by conveying the greeting of the Bathukamma festive occasion. They briefly outlined the program as well as explained the significance of the occasion. Sri G. Praveen garu, Treasurer of the outgoing Council presented a summary of the activities of 2017-18 performance and financial report to the general body of members which was approved amidst thunderous clapping.
The outgoing TCS President, Sri Srinivas Vaidyula garu welcomed the Chief Guest of the evening His Excellency Hon’ able Indian Ambassador to Kuwait, Sri Jeeva Sagar ji, the other distinguished guest, Mr. Afsal Khan ji, the Regional Head of M/s Malabar Gold and Diamonds Jewelry, Kuwait, our senior members Sri JRK Reddy garu, and Sri Narsing Rao garu, the Council and Committee members and the TCS fraternity. He elaborated on the importance of iconic Bathukamma festival for the people of Telangana. He explained In chaste Telugu on the significance of the festival which really reinvigorates the lives of people praying and playing for nine days the Goddess ‘Bathukamma' means ‘Mother come Alive’. Bathukamma is a festival of nature, flowers, and women. It pays tribute to the Womanhood as the creators of life by placing the Gauramma, the Maha Gauri-‘the Life Giver’ at the top of Bathukamma.
He gave an account of nine days with names of each day. The Day 1- Engili pula Bhathukamma Day, 2-Atukula Bhathukamma Day, 3-Muddappappu Bhathukamma Day, 4-Nanina biyyam Bhathukamma Day, 5-Atla Bhathukamma Day, 6-Aligina Bhathukamma (alaka Bhathukamma) Day, 7-Vepakayala Bhathukamma Day, 8-Venna muddala Bhathukamma Day and 9-Saddula Bhathukamma Day . He equated the role of Bathukamma during the Statehood movement to that of Indian Independence movement where Sri Lokamanya Tilak ji who garnered and educated masses by organizing Ganesh festivals to unite people against the British. Thus it culminated into a new lease of life, refreshing freedom and self-rule to the people of Telangana.
He recalled the greatness of Praja Kavi Sri Kaloji Narayana Rao, a true fearless Telangana dialect practitioner and a true nature lover, who dedicated his life as well as the death to the people of this great country by donating his full body to the Kakatiya Medical College. He further stated that we Indian Diaspora living and facing hardships, are really serving the mother India by earning precious foreign exchange and sending all our remittances to our relatives, families and the society. It is no wonder that the Gulf region NRIs, are the best servers of the both the residing country and their motherland. He finally congratulated the newly elected office bearers and wished that their performance should be even better than previous years.
The new TCS President for the Year 2018-19, Sri Kondal Reddy garu, explained that the events like Bathukamma will improve the unity and social bonds of our ancient culture while celebrating these festivals. The nation’s history, culture and tradition will be showcased through this celebration. As a part of this tradition, our TCS Association in Kuwait is celebrating this event fourth year in row, attended by a large gathering, displaying abundance of energy and enthusiasm. He explained about the significance of the festival that humanizes love and benevolence bringing people from all walks of life to come together and celebrate the nature and life, raising above caste, creed or religion. He thanked the M/s Malabar Gold & Diamonds, M/s Joyalukas Jewelers and M/s Yarmouk Al Ahlia General Trading and Cont. Co. for supporting this TCS event.
Earlier in the Program, the new Council and Committee members and the Area Coordinators took the oath by taking the “Pledge of Allegiance” to the Organization. The TCS, Kuwait is slowly but steadily growing day by day with the full commitment and dedication of all the Council and Committee members. Proof of this is that this year too it attracted many new members. Once again, he thanked to the His Excellency, The Indian Ambassador for sparing his valuable time to attending in this evening fellow Telugu and Indian fraternity.
Mr.Afsal Khan, the honorable chief guest of our well wisher and a constant supporter shared his happiness to celebrate this iconic Telangana Cultural festival for the fourth time in a row. He informed that they actively support the needy in cases of emergency and educational activities. He fondly remembered their organizational association with TCS members and their patronage. He assured that all the TCS members will continue to enjoy very good customer service in all their branches.
Bathukamma Festival is nothing but celebration of nature and shows how much the Telanganites are integrated with the environment and its flora. The Festival ends on a Day before the grand Dasara festival. Take from nature and give it back to it mother earth, by immersing the flowers ensemble in the flowing streams or ubiquitous lakes found all over the Telangana. The flowers that are traditionally it is believed will purify the waters. Children joining their elders during this duration of nine auspicious days get a practical fun filled indoctrination of respecting and caring for the nature through playful pageantry and pomp evenings of playing Bathukamma.
The chief guest of the evening, Hon’ble HE, the Indian ambassador, started his speech by greeting everyone on this cultural festival celebration. He shared a very hilarious personal threat from his better half on the decision of attending this program. The audience responded with laughter, love and respect that is traditionally reserved for their revered sons-in-law. He gave detailed significant aspects of the social engineering the festival aims to achieve. He drew metaphors between the use of the insignificant grassy plant flowers and unknown leafs which are mainly used to decorate the Bathukamma with that of the under privileged neglected cross sections of the society including women who get pride of place during this nine day festival. He extoled the honesty, dedicated efforts and yeoman service of the Indian diaspora in Kuwait. He praised all the law abiding Indians in Kuwait and informed them that the Kuwaiti society has high regard for us. He further stated that our country being a congruence of different cultures, religions, languages, ethnicity, social backgrounds etc., which the nation transforms into a steely strength and strong binding force of unity in democratic diversity. He enjoyed by taking a round of Bathukamma with all the members, guests and Mr.Afsal khan ji.
This year TCS Kuwait members participated in many competitions like Early Birds lucky draw, Lucky draw for newly members and best Bathukamma. The winners got a Gold coin each, and many other competitions like best Telangana dish, traditional dress competition for girls, boys, women and couples winners too got fabulous spot prizes.
The Womenfolk and girls dressed in choicest silk sarees from the famous Telangana Silk handlooms of Pochampally, Gadwal, Narayan Pet, Kothakota in vibrant dazzling colors played around the Bathukamma singing folk songs, rhythmically clapping and gracefully dancing around Bathukammas placed in the Centre. The Bathukammas are placed on beautiful colorful rangolis. The different flowers were flown especially from Hyderabad, India just before the grand occasion, were arranged in an ensemble of rows of different colored flowers arranged in a conical shape, beautifully decorated and skillfully balanced purely with natural flora. All Telanganites and guests expressed happiness, thrill and exuberance of emotional nostalgia of this function having taken them back to their yesteryears of Bathukamma Celebrations in their homes along with their loved ones. Children and men folk too played and danced around Bathukamma with happiness.
This year TCS Kuwait also organized many competitions for the members like Early Birds lucky draw, Lucky draw for new renewal members and best Bathukamma winner are got a Gold coins, and many other competition like best Telangana dish, traditional dress competition for girls, boys, ladies and couples are got gift prizes. And also the spot prizes. This was followed by distribution of prizes and certificates of appreciation for the Bathukamma Day all performers.
Joint Secretary, Sri S Narayana garu proposed the vote of thanks, thanking all the special guests, and recalled the support of M/s Malabar Gold & Diamonds, M/s Joyalukkas Jewelers and M/s Yarmouk Al Ahlia General Trad. And Cont. Co., Ladies Wing Representative Smt. Ranjita Garu, all the Council and Committee members, Comperes Sri Surendar garu and Sri Laxma Reddy Garu, Bathukamma and Rangoli makers Smt Radha garu, Smt Sravanthi garu, Smt. Kalpana garu and Smt. Lily Ramya garu, event managers, Sri O Ramesh Garu, etc. He thanked the Smt. And Sri Prabhakar garu, for bringing flowers from Hyderabad for this occasion. He thanked Sri Alexander garu for arranging gifts through various place. He thanked to Konasema restaurant for serving the tasty dinner and the video / audio / photography systems provider by Sri Anand.
The event ended with singing National anthem followed by a gala dinner served by the Association. More details Contact Nos. 60672378, 97834138, 55574321 & 99223124