Ancient festival a celebration of spring

AN ancient ritual almost 1000 years old will be renewed on the banks of Parramatta River this week by hundreds of Indian migrants.

The Bathukamma festival has been celebrated by people from the Telangana region in India since at least 1083.

Wentworthville resident Madhu Mandadi said it was a celebration of women, the new spring season and the life that both represented.

"Once upon a time there was a king, Dharmangada, and he was the king of a dynasty," Ms Mandadi explained.

"His wife was praying for kids and after many prayers she had a baby girl.

"The baby, Lakshmi, survived many accidents, so they named her Bathukamma."

In the native language Bathuku means life and Amma is the suffix given to female names.

Ms Mandadi said celebrations would culminate on Saturday with a ceremony that involved dancing, singing and tributes of spring flowers.

The festival has special significance for women, who spend days preparing special bouquets and dress in traditional saris and jewellery.

Ms Mandadi said young women prayed for a good husband, while married women prayed for the health and prosperity of their families.

Head of the Australian Telangana Forum Vinod Elete said he was proud the festival was now celebrated in Australia.

"When I came to Australia in 2002, people from my region weren't celebrating the cultural festivals," he said.

"I started the festival in 2007.

"We are now working hard to involve Parramatta Council and local Australians to join us in the future to make it a multicultural event."