For most people in Telangana, Bathukamma is more than just a festival—it is a celebration of identity, tradition, and resilience. Actress Shivani Nagaram, who recently rose to fame with her role in Little Hearts, describes Bathukamma as a festival that feels deeply personal, one that she calls a living memory of her childhood. In her words, the flower-filled celebration connects women to their inner Shakti, symbolising strength, fresh beginnings, and the divine energy embedded in everyday life.

Childhood Memories and Flower Gatherings

Growing up in Chikkadpally, Shivani fondly recalls the excitement of waking up at dawn during Bathukamma season to collect flowers and mango leaves. “Racing through the streets as a child to gather fresh blossoms and then joining my mother and nanamma to decorate the Bathukamma at home is something I can never forget,” she says. For her, these early experiences shaped not only the way she cherishes festivals but also how she perceives family, tradition, and spiritual togetherness.

She explains that her household celebrates both Chinna Bathukamma and Pedda Bathukamma, locally referred to as Saddula Bathukamma. While commitments sometimes keep her busy during the smaller festival, the bigger celebration always holds special meaning.

Sacred Rituals and Handcrafted Grace

One of Shivani’s favourite rituals involves her mother hand-stitching a new saree for the Durga idol every day across the nine-day festival. Each saree is chosen to reflect the colour theme of the day, beautifully adorned with jewellery to honour ammavaru (the goddess). “It is one of the most beautiful rituals I wait for every year,” Shivani shares, highlighting how these small yet heartfelt practices strengthen her bond with the festival and with the women in her family.

Alongside the floral decorations, the family prepares different prasadams each day. On the main day, Shivani particularly enjoys parvannam, a comforting dish made with rice, jaggery, and cardamom—a recipe that has stayed close to her heart since childhood.

Family, Togetherness, and Community Spirit

Shivani believes that Bathukamma feels extra special because of the way it gathers people together. Her grandparents, cousins, friends, and neighbours play an important role in the celebrations, joining in temple visits, traditional folk songs, and the collective joy of decorating and immersing Bathukammas. Over time, the festival has grown from a domestic celebration at home to a shared community event as families living in apartments gather in common spaces, turning Bathukamma evenings into vibrant spectacles of colour and togetherness.

Dressing in Tradition and Celebrating Shakti

Festivals are also about expression, and for Shivani, Bathukamma is the perfect time to embrace traditional attire. As a child, she wore langa jackets and half-sarees, but today she prefers the elegance of silk sarees tied with jasmine flowers, colourful bangles, and clay ornaments. Sometimes, she even matches her saree with what the goddess wears, adding a personal and devotional touch to her festive look.

But beyond the colours and rituals, Shivani emphasises the spiritual essence of Bathukamma. For her, the festival represents the Devi within every woman—a force that inspires resilience, courage, and fresh beginnings. “I believe the Devi in us gives strength and keeps the fire within alive,” she says, connecting the symbolic flowers of Bathukamma to the inner power that women carry.

A Festival of Strength and Renewal

Bathukamma, with its flowers, songs, and prayers, ultimately becomes a reminder of cultural heritage and womanhood’s inner strength. For Shivani Nagaram, it is a festival that revives not just traditions but also the power of Shakti, bringing families, communities, and generations together in celebration.

From dawn flower hunts to silk sarees matched with divine colours, Shivani’s reflections remind us that Bathukamma is not just about rituals—it is about identity, spirit, and renewal.

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