Bathukamma in full glory this year
Hyderabad: Women Chief Ministers and Governors across the country, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, social activist Medha Patkar and writer Arundhati Roy would be invited to participate in Bathukamma festival to be organised by the Telangana government on a grand scale.
The picturesque Tank Bund in the city will play host to the grand finale of Bathukamma celebrations. This was disclosed by the Chief Minister K ChandrasekharRao.
He also released Rs 10 crore for making arrangements for Bathukamma festival, the cultural symbol of Telangana. The Chief Minister said he would personally invite eminent women personalities like Chief Ministers J Jayalalithaa, Anandiben, Vasundhara Raje and Mamata Bannerjee, LS Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, women ministers, activist Medha Patkar, writer Arundhati Roy and Kiran Bedi.
Holding a review meeting with MPs, MLAs and several officials, KCR said that as Bathukamma was very dear to Telangana people, the celebrations should be held on par with the Mysore Dasara celebrations.
He also earmarked Rs 10 lakh to each district collector in the State for the purpose. The State government is trying to identify a female foreign dignitary to be invited as the guest of honour.
During the nine-day of celebrations, the city would be decorated with a variety of lights, fountains and banners. The Chief Minister asked the officials to make arrangements to decorate Tank Bund and Necklace Road with bulbs.
The Legislative Assembly, temples and other important buildings would also be decorated with lights. He said that about 10,000 Bathukammas would be arranged at the L B Stadium by the government and would be taken to Tank Bund in a huge procession.
'Telangana culture and heritage should come to the fore,' he said. He asked district collectors and sarpanches to take the initiative and ensure that the celebrations are held in a fitting manner in all the districts.
TRS MPs K Kavitha, Jitender Reddy, Adviser K V Ramanachary, Chief Secretary Rajiv Sharma, DGP Anurag Sharma and other officials also participated in the review meeting.
News Posted: 13 September, 2014
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