Make better arrangements for Bathukamma festival from Oct 9-17: CS

Hyderabad: Chief Secretary SK Joshi today informed that “Bathukamma” the state festival will be conducted from Oct 9 to 17 across the State.
The Chief Secretary held a review meeting at Secretariat here with officials of all departments. Speaking on the occasion, Joshi instructed the officials committee to give instructions to conduct the festivities in a better manner than that of last year. Spread the festivities and its greatness to the world and take all steps department wise, he said.
Joshi also asked the officials to conduct the Bathukamma celebrations in a festive mood by involving womenfolk in large numbers. “Make adequate arrangements to reflect the culture and traditions of the State through the flower festivities”, he said. On the last day October 17, Saddula Bathukama festivities will be conducted on a grand scale, the CS said.
He asked the officials of various departments to ensure all facilities during the festivities of flowers festival. The arrangements will include illumination of historic places, monuments and Assembly, Secretariat and other offices, power, water supply, neat roads with patching, wide publicity, security, laser show, food stalls, competitions, traffic regulation, barricading, food stalls, parking, sanitation, mobile toilets, health team and also fire tenders.
Information Commissioner Arvind Kumar said that the festivities will be given wider publicity through holdings in Delhi and Mumbai. He also said that external affairs ministry cooperation will be taken to give publicity in other countries. Culture secretary B Venkatesham said that Bathukamma festival will be spread world-wide.
The officials informed that special booklets on Bathukamma will be distributed among women travellers in trains, flights and elsewhere to spread the message of the event in Telangana. We are also taking steps to the festivities will be spread to US, Canada, Dubai by taking cooperation of NRIs the officials said. In coordination with industry sector 100 floating Bathukammas will be set up to mark the event. (NSS)