NJTA Celebrated Bathukamma and Gandhi Jayanthi

Highland Park, NJ: New Jersey Telangana Association (NJTA) celebrated Bathukamma festival and Gandhi Jayanthi with jubilation and joy at Donaldson Park, in Highland Park, New Jersey. The scenic view of the Donaldson Park and the huge Raritan lake was a perfect setting and it reminded the Tanks (cheruvu) in villages. Though it was little cold and cloudy through out the day but without any hassle the event went well.
About 700 people of all ages participated in the celebrations, the event was attended well beyond expectations and it was a grand success by any measure.

The day started early in peoples homes with everyone waking up early and collecting flowers for Bathukammas. This activity brought back memories from back home where children used to go to fields to collect various wild flowers like Gunugu Poolu, Thangedu Poolu and other domestic flowers like Beera Poolu and Cutley Poolu. Since we cannot get these flowers in North America, we have to substitute them with locally available flowers.

Celebrations started at 12 PM with lunch, Lunch was a great feast, thanks to those restaurants Country Oven, Dakshin, Paradise Birayni, Coriander, Spice Zone and Karikudi, who sponsored dishes. There were about 10 different dishes to choose from, including items such as Samosa, Roti, Vegetable Biryani, Pulihora, Curd Rice, Sweets and many other varieties of dishes.

Games started after lunch for Kids and Women,. Women had passing the Ball, Competition for who has more number of bangles and who has designer bindhi. Kids had competition passing through the hula hoop. Men had competition who had more denomination of dollar bills from $1 to $100.

Bathukamma started at about 4.00PM with women in traditional saris and colorful clothes with beautiful Bathukammas made of locally available flowers were placed in the center and women played around the Bathukammas. It was a visual treat when women danced around Bathukammas with Bathukamma songs with the tune of 'Bathukamma Bathukamma Uyyaalo.' Many felt nostalgic about the whole thing, it brought back their childhood memories.

Goreti Vekanna (Poet and Folk Singer) enthralled audience singing Telangana folk and Bathukamma songs.

After plying for more than 2 hours the 'Bathukammas' were bought to Raritan Lake shore singing Bahtukamma songs and immersed in the lake in traditional way. The woman ceremoniously circled again sang and played for the well being of their families and everyone in society.

Chief Guest on the celebrations Sri Vaddepalli Krishna (Cine Writer/Director and Censor Board Member), explained to the gathering significance of Bathukamma festival in the history and its importance. Sri Upendra Chivukula, New Jersey Assembly Men addressed the gathering wished Bathukamma and Dasara greetings.

Sir Goreti Venkaanna and Sri Vaddepalli Krishna garlanded Gandhiji Photo and Sri Jaya Shankar Sir's photo and explained to attendees how Gandhi is instrumental in independence movement and Jaya Shankar sir involvement in Telangana movement. All the attendees paid rich tributes to Gandhi and Jaya Shankar sir.

Sri Goreti Venkanna distributed prizes to Big Bathukamma and Best Bathukamma to Priti Reddy Paturu, Surekha Yerram and Shailaja Tadishetti.

Sri Madhu Yashki (M.P Nizamabad) chief guest did not attend the event due to political situation took place in New Delhi on Telangana issue.because of Sakala Janula Samme, He conveyed his Bathukamma and Dashara greeting to attendees.

Sangeeta Dhannapuneni, Kalpana Suwarna, Kavita Peddi, Sri Priya Akkapalli, Bhanu Maganti, Preeti Reddy Paturi, Rani Velishala, Manjula Ganagoni, Sarita Chintawar, Vidya Venkatayogi and Sudha Avunoor organised this event in the most successful manner.

The prominent people who attended gathering Ravi Thota, Prabhakar Reddy Chenepalli Bhagvan Reddy Pingle, Praveen Rao Maknoor, Blawanth Reddy Kommidi, Narendar Reddy Yasa, Damodhar Gedala, Venkat Gorkanti and Vekateshwar Rao Ponnamaneni.

Ramesh Maganti thanked all the attendees, organizers, volunteers for making the event grand success.

The success of this celebrations credit goes to volunteers Kishore Bhupati, Ramesh Maganti, Rajam Chiluka, Ravi Peddi, Santosh Reddy Paturu, Srikanth Goud Akkapalli, Mahesh Pogaku, Srikumar Tokala, Shashank Nagaula, Gurunadham Alampalli, Mohan Reddy Deshidi, Venkat Nalla, Indrasena Reddy Tudi, Srinivas Gangoni and Bhaskar Bhupati.

For more pictures of the event:
http://www.telugupeople.com/NewsGallery/gallery.asp?id=1021