This is the time of the year 9 sacred days are celebrated in large scale. Though they are called different names, celebrated differently, worshipping avatars of Durga is common. Navratri, Mysuru Dasara, Batukamma, Kullu Dussehra, Durga Puja, Nadahabba etc. This high-spirit festival is celebrated in many different ways. Some fast, some feast, some jagaran (not sleeping thru the night), some dance every night, some worship with high devotion.
Batukamma palli saddi
Bathukamma is a unique flower festival celebrated in the state of Telangana, India. It is a highly enthusiastic festival, especially for women. It represents Telangana’s culture. Bathukamma is a beautiful round flower arrangement with colorful seasonal flowers stacked in the shape of temple gopuram. The arrangement signifies the Gouri goddess Bathukamma. Flowers used to make Batukamma are Bera, Thangedu, Thamara, Gunugu, Banthi, Gummadi, Kanakambaram, Mandhara, and Ramabanam. Women arrange floral batukammas beyond their creativity. Women dress up in their best, expensive pure silk sarees, wear jewelry. In the evening, all women carry plates of flowers to a nearby lake, arrange all in a circular shape. They dance around batukammas clapping rhythmically with traditional songs praising the goddess and to take birth again.
All about Dasara
Entire India is ready for Dasara aka Navratri. In Southern states, it is celebrated as Dasara, celebrating Rama’s victory over Ravana. It is celebrated as the victory of good over evil. As epic Ramayana describes the story of Rama. Rama was the prince of the Ayodhya kingdom banished into the forest by his step mother’s wish. While in the forest, with his wife Sita and brother Lakshmana. Sita was abducted by Ravana, the demon king of Lanka. Rama, assisted by an army of monkeys and Lakshmana, attacked Lanka to rescue her. The fierce battle went on for days between the two armies. It was difficult for Rama to kill powerful, compelling mighty Ravana. So he prayed for nine days to nine different avatars of goddess Durga and grew strength to defeat Ravana.
