Bathukamma is the "festival of life" celebrated most popularly by the people of Telangana. As on this day, historians visited the baby Lakshmi at the royal palace and blessed her by calling “Bathukamma” which means to live forever. 

Let us now understand how and why we need to celebrate the festival Bathukamma. As bathukamma is a festival for all young girls and women. On this special occasion of Bathukamma, women dress up in the traditional sarees combining them with beautiful jewels and other accessories looking so beautiful. Teenage girls wear half sarees or Lehenga Choli combining them with jewels in order to bring out the grace of festivity.

On the day of Bathukamma, the seasonal flowers of spring also called wildflowers that bloom during the season are arranged on a square bamboo frame and form a pinnacle and pile on the top. It is similar to the shape of a temple tower called ‘Gopuram’. A lump of turmeric is kept on top of the stacked flowers along with kumkum. It is found that Bathukamma is a festival that is celebrated for nine days, each day having its own and unique name and specialty, performing different rituals every day. Let us know how the festival is celebrated each day. 

The first day of Bathukamma is celebrated as Engili pula Bathukamma. It falls on the day of Mahalaya Amavasya, also known as Pethara Amavasya in the Telangana region. 

The second day of bathukamma is celebrated as Atukula bathukamma that falls on the day of Padyami which marks the first day of Ashwayuja Masam. On this day, people offer the Goddess with Sappidi Pappu, which is bland boiled lentils, bellam known as jaggery, and atkulu which are flattened parboiled rice, and take her blessings. 

The third day of the Bathukamma festival is celebrated as Muddapappu Bathukamma falls on the day of Vidiya which is the second day of Ashwayuja Masam. On this day of Muddapappu Bathukamma, the Naivedhyam offered to the Goddess by devotees is muddapappu which is nothing but a mixture of softened boiled lentils, milk, and jaggery

The fourth day of Bathukamma is celebrated as the Nanabiyyam Bathukamma, which falls on thidiya or the third day of Aswayuja masam. On this day people generally offer a mixture of nanesina biyyam that is wet rice, milk, and jaggery as Naivedhyam. 

The fifth day of Bathukamma is celebrated as the Atla Bathukamma which falls on the Chaturthi or the fourth day of Aswayuja Masam. On this day we prepare uppudu pindi atlu which are pancakes made from wheat lets or dosa, and offer it as Naivedhyam to the Goddess to seek her blessings.

The sixth day of the festival is celebrated as Aligina Bathukamma which falls on Shasti or the sixth day of Aswayuja Masam. No food offering is made on this day they simply pray. 

The seventh day of Bathukamma is celebrated as Vepakayala Bathukamma which falls on the Saptami or on the seventh day of Ashwayuja Masam. On this day, people shape rice flour into fruits of the neem tree and deep fry them and serve them as Naivedhyam with devotion.

The eight-day of the Bathukamma festival is celebrated as Vennamuddala Bathukamma which falls on Ashtami or on the eighth day of Ashwayuja Masam. On this day, people offer a mixture of nuvvulu which is sesame seeds, Venna which is butter or ghee, and jaggery and seek her blessings of well-being and prosperity. 

The ninth and final day of bathukamma is celebrated as Saddula Bathukamma on Navami or on the ninth day of Ashwayuja Masam which coincides with Durgashtami. On this day, people cook five types of rice dishes, namely chinthapandu pulihora saddi which is tamarind rice perugannam saddi which is curd rice, nimmakaya saddi, or lemon rice which is commonly prepared, kobbari saddi or coconut rice, and nuvvula saddi which is sesame rice and offer it as Naivedhyam with all prayers.

This festival is celebrated with joy and happiness all over the country, mainly focusing on the Telangana region and the people of Telangana. During these celebrations, there are several performances such as dance, music, dramas, and a variety of entertainments along with exhibitions. This is a time when thousands of tourists and locals come to witness the festivities and enjoy its vibes with enthusiasm.