A large number of traditionally-clad women visited the Thousand Pillar and Bhadrakali temples in Hanamkonda to celebrate Bathukamma, on the first day of the nine-day festival.
Almost all the temples were crowded with women carrying colourfully-decorated Bathukammas. The folk songs that the women sing when they go around Bathukammas were to be heard in every colony and street corner in the town.
People from different places arrived here on Wednesday only to witness the festival in all its grandeur. The final day of the festival will be as magnificent as one could imagine with thousands of women carrying Bathukammas decorated using different varieties of flowers. With the government announcing it a State festival and sanctioning funds for the same, all the government agencies have been making elaborate arrangements for the festival.
Staff Reporter adds: The Bathukamma celebrations began with much fanfare at the Collectorate here on Wednesday. On the occasion, Collector Rahul Bojja garlanded the statue of ‘Telangana Talli’ marking the beginning of the nine-day festival. The students of Satya Sai Dance Academy took part in cultural programmes on day one.
Special Correspondent adds: The Dasara festivities, Bathukamma in the local parlance, got off to a colourful start here on Wednesday. A large number of women gathered at the important junctions to celebrate the festival.
The installation of Devi idols will begin from Thursday. After nine days of special pujas, idols will be immersed in water.
In view of the celebrations, the police have made elaborate security arrangements in important areas, especially the sensitive ones.
