Kishan Reddy Joins 72-Foot Bathukamma Celebration with Governor
Synopsis
Union Minister and BJP Telangana president G. Kishan Reddy highlighted a Bathukamma celebration marked by a 72-foot floral pyramid and the presence of Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla, showcasing the festival's blend of cultural tradition and civic spectacle.
Key Takeaways
Kishan Reddy , Union Coal and Mines Minister and BJP Telangana president, posted about a Bathukamma celebration on 18 October 2026 .
The event featured a 72-foot-tall Bathukamma floral installation adorned with colourful flowers.
Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla and the First Lady Smt.
Janaki Shukla were present at the celebration.
Bathukamma is Telangana's traditional autumn festival in which women arrange wildflowers in tiered pyramids.
Large-scale public Bathukamma installations have become a feature of organised state-level celebrations since Telangana's formation in 2014 .
A 72-foot-tall Bathukamma — its tiered floral pyramid blazing with colour — became the centrepiece of festivities that drew people of every age group together, as Union Coal and Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy shared glimpses of the celebration on Sunday, 18 October 2026.
The event was graced by Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla and the First Lady, Smt. Janaki Shukla, lending the occasion a ceremonial weight that underscored the festival's reach beyond its community roots. Reddy described the atmosphere as 'filled with energy and enthusiasm, bringing people of all age groups together.'
What makes Bathukamma more than a floral festival
Bathukamma is Telangana's signature autumn festival — a celebration in which women arrange wildflowers in concentric, cone-shaped pyramids and carry them in procession to water bodies, accompanied by song. The name translates roughly to 'Mother Goddess, come alive,' and the ritual is deeply tied to the agrarian and cultural memory of the region.
Large public installations of the floral pyramid have become a defining feature of organised Bathukamma events in recent years, turning what was once a neighbourhood ritual into a spectacle of civic pride. A 72-foot structure — if borne out — would represent the kind of record-scale effort that drives footfall and visibility in equal measure.
Political figures and the Bathukamma moment
As BJP Telangana state president, Kishan Reddy has a consistent stake in amplifying festivals that resonate deeply with the state's identity. Bathukamma carries particular cultural currency: successive governments — state and central — have invested in its promotion as a symbol of Telangana's distinct heritage since the state's formation in 2014.
The presence of Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla, a senior BJP leader who currently serves as Governor of Himachal Pradesh, at a Telangana cultural event adds a layer of inter-regional solidarity to what is otherwise a local celebration. Such moments of convergence — a constitutional office, a Union minister, and a community festival — are rarely accidental in Indian political optics.
For the women who stack the flowers at dawn and the families who turn out in numbers, however, the politics is backdrop. The Bathukamma is the story — and this year, it stood 72 feet tall.
Point of View
However ceremonial, signals the event's elevation from folk tradition to state-level spectacle. For a party navigating a competitive regional landscape, ownership of a beloved festival's iconography carries real electoral subtext. The 72-foot installation is not just a floral feat; it is also a visibility statement.
NationPress
18 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Bathukamma festival?
Bathukamma is Telangana's traditional autumn festival in which women arrange seasonal wildflowers in large, cone-shaped tiered pyramids and carry them in colourful processions, often culminating near water bodies, accompanied by folk songs.
Why did G. Kishan Reddy post about Bathukamma?
As Union Minister and BJP Telangana state president, G. Kishan Reddy shared highlights of a Bathukamma celebration to mark the festival and highlight its cultural significance, noting the presence of Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla at the event.
Who is Shiv Pratap Shukla?
Shiv Pratap Shukla is a senior BJP leader serving as Governor. He and the First Lady Smt. Janaki Shukla were present at the Bathukamma celebration referenced in Kishan Reddy's post.
How tall was the Bathukamma at the 2026 celebration?
According to G. Kishan Reddy's post, the Bathukamma floral installation at the celebration was 72 feet tall and adorned with an array of colourful flowers.
When is Bathukamma celebrated?
Bathukamma is typically celebrated in autumn, during the Telugu month of Bhadrapada-Ashwayuja, and is one of the most prominent festivals associated with Telangana's cultural identity.
