Nine Days Of Bathukamma Festival

 

Bathukamma, meaning “Mother Goddess Come Alive,” is a vibrant nine-day festival celebrated predominantly in Telangana and parts of Andhra Pradesh. Women and young girls gather each evening with their hand-crafted Bathukammas—floral arrangements stacked in a temple-like shape—to sing, dance, and invoke blessings from various goddesses.

Purpose & Devotion

Celebrated during Ashwayuja Masam, Bathukamma coincides with Navratri. Women pray for health, prosperity, and happiness for their families. The festival honors Goddess Gauri (Parvati) and celebrates nature, fertility, and feminine energy.

Nine Days of Rituals and Naivedyam

Day 1 – Engili Pula Bathukamma
Observed on Mahalaya Amavasya (Pethara Amavasya in Telangana). The naivedyam offered is sesame seeds mixed with rice flour or coarsely ground wet rice.

Day 2 – Atkula Bathukamma
Celebrated on Padyami (first day of Ashwayuja Masam). The offering includes flattened rice (atkulu), bland boiled lentils (sappidi pappu), and jaggery (bellam).

Day 3 – Muddapappu Bathukamma
Held on Vidiya (second day). The naivedyam consists of softened boiled lentils (muddapappu), milk, and jaggery.

Day 4 – Nanabiyyam Bathukamma
Observed on Thadiya (third day). Wet rice soaked in milk and jaggery is offered.

Day 5 – Atla Bathukamma
Celebrated on Chaturthi (fourth day). Pancakes made from wheat flour (uppidi pindi atlu) or dosas are offered.

Day 6 – Aligina Bathukamma
Held on Panchami (fifth day). No food offering is made on this day.

Day 7 – Vepakayala Bathukamma
Observed on Sashti (sixth day). Rice flour shaped like neem fruits is deep-fried and offered.

Day 8 – Vennamuddala Bathukamma
Celebrated on Saptami (seventh day). The offering includes sesame seeds (nuvvulu), butter or ghee (venna), and jaggery.

Day 9 – Saddula Bathukamma
The grand finale on Ashtami (eighth day), coinciding with Durgashtami. Women prepare five types of rice dishes: curd rice (perugannam saddi), tamarind rice (chinthapandu pulihora saddi), lemon rice (nimmakaya saddi), coconut rice (kobbara saddi), and sesame rice (nuvvula saddi).

Evening Celebrations

Each evening, women gather in open spaces, forming circles around their Bathukammas. They sing folk songs, clap in rhythm, and dance in unison. The songs invoke blessings from various goddesses and celebrate feminine strength and community spirit.

Community Involvement

Young girls actively prepare naivedyam for the first eight days. On Saddula Bathukamma, all women participate in cooking and celebration, making it a collective expression of devotion and joy.