Hundreds of Telangana women and the kids danced to the rythmic beats of Bathukamma songs at the Sydney Bathukamma celebrations attended by Australian law makers and bureaucrats apart from prominent Indians.
Tollywood music director Raghu Kunche and playback singer Harika Narayan from Hyderabad enthralled the gathering of persons of Indian origin. The songs took them back on a journey of the rural Telangana and the festivities surrounding the annual floral festival celebrated during the Dasara navaratri.
Minister for Innovation & Better Regulation in New South Wales Matt Kean, member of Parliament Goeff Lee, federal Member of Parliament and Shadow Assistant Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Australia Julia Owens, member of Parliament Hugh Mc Dermott, prominent non-resident Indians Yadu Singh, Bharathi Reddy, Nihal Agar and Anagan Babu were among those who attended the celebrations.
Sydney Bathukamma event is officially supported by members of Australian Telangana Forum, Vasavi Club, Australia Telugu Samithi, Sydney Telugu Association and Federation of Indian Association, organising secretary Vinod Elete said.
He said Julia Owens participated very actively from preparation of Bathukamma with the flowers and finally playing with the women singing Bathukamma songs. Vidya Seri, Harika Mannem and Vathsala Muddam sang Bathukamma songs introducing the festival to young Indians from other parts of the country.
Women finally floated bathukammas in the nearby lake and the event was followed by Telugu cultural performances and musical night.
The next day Dussehra celebrations were also organised starting with Shami Pooja and followed by Alai Balai dinner, president of Sydney Bathukamma and Dusherra festivities Anil Munagala.