Kishan Reddy joins Bathukamma puja at Hyderabad residence
Synopsis
Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy participated in Bathukamma puja and floral preparations at his Hyderabad home on October 17, honouring Gauri Ammavaru, before joining the public celebration at Amberpet Municipal Grounds the same evening.
Key Takeaways
Union Coal and Mines Minister G.
Kishan Reddy performed Bathukamma puja at his Hyderabad residence on October 17, 2026 .
The puja was held to honour Gauri Ammavaru , the presiding deity of the Bathukamma festival.
A public Bathukamma celebration was scheduled for the same evening at Amberpet Municipal Grounds , Hyderabad.
Bathukamma is a state-recognised annual floral festival in Telangana , observed during the Navratri period and led primarily by women.
Kishan Reddy also serves as BJP Telangana state president , making cultural engagement a key part of his public role.
Flowers, devotion, and constituency connection — Union Coal and Mines Minister and BJP Telangana president G. Kishan Reddy participated in the puja and preparation of Bathukamma to honour Gauri Ammavaru at his Hyderabad residence on Saturday, October 17, ahead of the evening's public celebrations.
The minister shared the moment on social media, noting his participation in the traditional floral arrangements and puja rituals before heading to the community event at Amberpet Municipal Grounds later in the day.
What Bathukamma means to Telangana
Bathukamma is one of Telangana's most cherished annual festivals — a celebration led primarily by women, centred on the artful stacking of seasonal flowers into tall, colourful conical arrangements. Observed during the Navratri period, it is a state-recognised cultural event that draws communities together at public grounds, open spaces, and neighbourhoods across the region.
The presiding deity of the festival, Gauri Ammavaru, is a form of the goddess honoured through the flower-stack offerings and the rhythmic group singing that accompanies them. The festival carries both spiritual and social weight — a rare women-centric public celebration with deep roots in Telangana's folk traditions.
Amberpet grounds: the evening's public gathering
The public Bathukamma event at Amberpet Municipal Grounds in Hyderabad was the focal point of the evening. Amberpet, a densely populated locality at the heart of the city, typically draws large neighbourhood turnout for such municipal-organised festivals. Kishan Reddy's personal participation — beginning at home and continuing at the public venue — follows the pattern of senior leaders anchoring themselves to Telangana's cultural calendar.
For a BJP leader who also serves as the party's state president in a state where the saffron party is working to expand its footprint, visibility at Bathukamma carries clear political resonance alongside the cultural one.
Point of View
Where the party is still building mass-level presence. Bathukamma is not merely ceremonial: its women-centric, community-rooted character makes it a touchstone of Telangana identity, and being seen as part of it carries symbolic capital that transcends religious optics. For a central minister who is simultaneously the state party president, the dual role — governing from Delhi, celebrating in Hyderabad — reinforces the message that the BJP is not an outsider to Telangana's living culture.
NationPress
17 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Bathukamma festival and when is it celebrated?
Bathukamma is a Telangana festival celebrated during the Navratri period, where women create elaborate floral arrangements called Bathukammas to honour the goddess Gauri Ammavaru, accompanied by communal singing and dancing.
Who is Gauri Ammavaru in the Bathukamma tradition?
Gauri Ammavaru is a form of the goddess at the centre of Bathukamma worship. Devotees prepare ornate stacked-flower arrangements as offerings to her during the festival period.
Where did G. Kishan Reddy attend Bathukamma celebrations in 2026?
Kishan Reddy performed Bathukamma puja at his Hyderabad residence and participated in the public celebration at Amberpet Municipal Grounds in Hyderabad on October 17, 2026.
What is G. Kishan Reddy's role in Telangana politics?
G. Kishan Reddy is the Union Minister of Coal and Mines at the Centre and also serves as the BJP Telangana state president, making him the party's senior-most face in the state.
Why do political leaders participate in Bathukamma celebrations?
Bathukamma is a state-recognised cultural event and a key marker of Telangana identity. Political leaders participate to connect with local communities and demonstrate their rootedness in the region's traditions.
