Warangal: When people all over the country celebrated Diwali, the residents in Seethampeta of Hasanparthy mandal observed a unique tradition of celebrating Saddula Bathukamma in Hanamkonda district.
The practice is followed for over a century by the members of the weavers’ community who invite their family members, relatives and friends to take part in the festivities.
B. Hari Babu, a member of the weavers’ community, told Deccan Chronicle that for past four generations he had witnessed the celebrations. Previously, elders used to celebrate the festival for four to five days but now it is limited to three days.
On the first day of Diwali, when some villagers perform Kedareswara Swamy Vratha Kalpam (Nomu), others worship Goddess Lakshmi. After offering prayers, men visit the village pond in the afternoon and collect black clay and prepare idols of oxen (Jodu Yedlu) along with some other farm equipment with rice flour.
On the second day, the idols are painted and placed before God to seek blessings. The story behind preparation of idols is that members of the weavers’ community depended on weaving and farming. To respect their profession, they prepare idols of oxen, plough and other tools required for cultivation and offered prayers which is still in vogue.
In the evening, villagers take out a procession with oxen idols to the pond amid dances and kolatams and then immerse the idols in the pond. Then all the villagers play Holi by splashing colours on each other along with bursting crackers.
On the third and final day, women will take part in the celebrations. They prepare Bathukammas with flowers collected by men from various places and later dressed in traditional attire along with their girl children will participate in the procession.
They worship Gouramma made of turmeric and vermillion and play Bathukamma near the pond as that of Saddula Bathukamma by singing songs, dancing around the Bathukamma. Even men also take part in the celebrations and then immerse Gouramma embedded in the flowers in the water.
G. Ravinder, a resident from another community, told Deccan Chronicle that not only people of the weavers’ community, members of other communities as well take part in the three-day festivities.
