Shortage of real flowers has turned into an opportunity for 18-year-old doll maker Tayyaba, who is turning out realistic Bathukammas using paper flowers.
Tayyaba, who has completed her intermediate, takes care of a shop run by her parents at Edupayala. She has taken up preparation and selling of Bathukammas made with garlands of multi-colour paper flowers.
Two hours work
She wraps old newspapers on a bamboo basket and then decorates it with garlands of multi-colour paper flowers to produce a Bathukamma. It takes about two hours to make each one. Though Bathukamma made with garlands of paper flowers is not new, they being sold in the villages has surprised the passersby.
Tradition
“Playing Bathukamma is a must for everyone in the region but then how can anyone play Bathukamma without flowers?” Tayyaba’s mother Salesha Begum asks. “There are no flowers available in the village or in the surrounding area. So people are opting for paper flower Bathukamma,” she explained.
“Each Bathukamma costs us about ₹ 90, including the raw material, and we would like to sell it for ₹ 150. Most of the buyers haggle and are unwilling to offer more than ₹130. Though there is a long shelf life for the paper flower Bathukamma, we have to sell it for whatever they are willing to pay lest they go elsewhere,” said Tayyaba.