HYDERABAD: The nine-day long Bathukamma festival began on Wednesday with the Petramavasya or Mahalaya Amavasya, the no-moon day in the month of Bhadrapadam. Women across Telan-gana observed Engilipoola Bathukamma. Prominent personalities like Telangana Jagruthi Founder President and Nizamabad MP K. Kavitha, and Dep-uty Speaker Padma Deven-der Reddy also celebrated the festival at their homes.

The Telangana government had distributed sarees in the villages to be worn on this day and women wore their new sarees and celebrated Bathukamma with old and new songs. Though schools had been given a holiday, some students celebrated the festival by gathering at their schools to make Bathukammas. Speaking on the occasion, Nizamabad MP Kavi-tha said that Telangana women and girls celebrate the festival for nine days and offers pujas to the nine Bathukammas.

Mahalaya Amavasya marked the beginning of the festive season. TRS MP Kavitha said, “Siblings take their sisters home for Dasara before Saddula Bathukamma. The festival is completely related to nature as it is the festival of flowers.” She added that BBC News is producing a documentary on Bathukamma for the first time and would be shooting in Velimela village of Armur on Friday. “Telangana Jagruti has composed 60 songs this time. On September 26, we will be celebrating Maha Bathukamma, and on September 28, the government is organising Pedda Bathukamma at Tank Bund,” informed the Nizamabad MP.