As Bathukamma blooms, celebration costs rise in Hyderabad. Women from all walks of life gathered in colourful attire at colonies, designated community spaces and apartment cellars on Saturday to celebrate the start of Bathukamma, the nine-day floral festival of Telangana. The celebrations began with Yengili Poola Bathukamma on Mahalaya Amavasya and will culminate with Saddula Bathukamma on Oct 18.