Bathukamma festival celebrated at Meadowvale Park in Mississauga (city), Ontario (Province) , gave an impression of a Telangana village air dropped in Canada. Telangana Development Forum, Canada (TDF) GreaterToronto Area (GTA) chapter organized the Annual Bathukamma festival with such traditional flavor that everyone whoparticipated were found awestruck and felt so happy to be part of this event.
The event was celebrated a week before the season begins in Telangana, India due to the cold weather that starts in Canada very soon. The day reflected greatTelangana tradition and rich culture in every essence of Festival, songs, plays, dressing, food, friendship and every bit ofits walk and talk.
The turnout was around 500 and besides the Telanganite families turned up in huge numbers participants also includednon Telanganites and some local ethnic community families too, who were so impressed with the Bathukamma “ata”,”pata” (play, song) and the rich tradition being celebrated in lush green and pleasant weather. Women from Families ofTelangana origin made colorful bathukammas from attractive seasonal flowers, assembled at the venue and celebratedthe festivities by using Native Telangana clapping and circling around bathukammas by singing Bathukamma songs.
Later the bathukammas were bid farewell for the year by immersing them in the creek. On this occasion, Elders explainedthe significance of Bathukamma festival in the Telangana tradition and life style to young generation, who were keen onknowing every aspect of the festivity. Later the participants were treated to the delicious Telangana food that remindedeveryone to “amma chethi vanta” (“food cooked by mother”). Sports and coloring activities were conducted for youth
and children.
After recreational activities, all families returned home with unforgettable memories of the event along with gift hampersent by Department of Culture and Tourism, Government of Telangana with whom TDF, Canada associated to performthis year’s Bathukamma.
