New England Telangana Association celebrated the Bathukamma festival and Telangana Liberation day with great jubilation and joy at Hopkinton State Park in Hopkinton.  The scenic view of the Hopkinton state park and the huge lake was a perfect setting and it reminded the Tanks (cheruvu) in Telangana villages.  It also turned out to be a perfect day - sunny and warm.  About 150 people from all over New England area participated in the celebrations.  Even places as far as Vermont, Connecticut and Providence came to participate in the festivities.  Women wore traditional and colorful clothes and brought beautifully decorated bathukammas.  It was very encouraging to see many non-Telugu speaking participants as well.

Amar Karmilla the master of the ceremony started with welcome speech and announced the agenda for the celebrations.  The program started with the introductions of all the participants.  Lunch was served with different Saddulu, five different rice dishes and various authentic Telangana cuisine brought by the participants.

There were about 20 beautifully decorated Bathukammas and the traditional ceremony started with the Gowri pooja.  Later all the ladies formed a big a circle and girls formed an inner circle.  They all went around the Bathukkmmas clapping and singing “Bathukkamma Bathukamma Uyyalo Bangaru Bathukamma Uyyalo” .  Elderly women visiting from India sang many melodious songs.  It was a visual treat to see ladies and girls clad in colorful sarees, stepping around rhythmically. Many felt nostalgic about the whole thing; it brought back their childhood memories.  Later Bathukammas were immersed in the lake.

Later there were games for the kids and adults including the best Bathukamma competition.  Children enjoyed the most making small Bathukammas as part of the “Make-Your-Own-Bathukamma” event.  While kids played musical chairs, soccer and foot ball.  Adults played volleyball and musical chairs.  Men’s “musical chairs” was the highlight of the event.  The best Bathukamma prizes were won by Vinaya, Vijaya Maroju, Gitanjali, Naveena Putta and Manjula.

V. Sandhya, President of India based “Progressive Organization of Women” was a special guest for the event.  Some other notable people attended the ceremony included Dr. Jaspal Singh, retd Harvard Professor, Dr. Zaffer, Dr. Padma Balasubramanian.

This event was organized with the help of many volunteers who actively participated and made this event a big success.  Shanti Putta thanked the organizers of the event Amar Karmilla, Venkat Maroju, Rajender Kalvala, Suresh Gottimukkula and Rayadas Manthena.

|