India Post News Service

ST. LOUIS: It was the first of its type event in St. Louis and proved to be highly successful when Non Resident Indians from Telangana living in St. Louis and TDF-USA celebrated Bathukamma festival and family picnic at Route 66 State Park in St. Louis area last week.Over 120 families, 260 people attended the event. Women dressed in sarees and children helping them with setting up of Bathukamma's adorned the park with color and festive atmosphere.

The lake weather, sunny but with shade provided the nicest backdrop for Bathukamma and picnic event. Traditional Telangana food was served.Many women brought Bathukammas and the best Bathukamma prizes were given to Lavanya, Sharada, Vidya, Vijaya, Shirisha, Vanaja and Shobha, Suhasini, Rani, Pranathi, Manjula and Sandhya. Women sang lots of Bathukamma songs in chorus. Bathukammas were symbolically left in the lake after the event by the participants.

Adults and children alike participated in all the games that were conducted. Prizes were given to all the winners in the games, all the kids that attended the event, and to all the women that brought a Bathukamma.

The organizers who helped organizing the event included Praveen Singirikonda, Nandu Rai, Yadava Raju, Bhaskar Tipparti, Harish Dhanalakota, Kamal Perma, Anil Aleti, Sridhar Kodati, LN Rao and Sriram Vedire. The sponsors of the event included restaurants Priya and Ruchi, Indian stores Ambica, Seema, GagraCholi.com and TDF-USA.Bathukamma as a symbol of celebrating of life and liberty for Telangana has become an icon in the area of St. Louis and the event coordinators thanked all the volunteers, sponsors and attendees for making the event successful.