Bathukamma festival ends: Kavitha missing!

The nine-day Bathukamma festivities, the biggest folk festival in Telangana coinciding with the Dasara Navaratri celebrations, came to an end on Thursday, with lakhs of women taking part in the festivities across the state.

But one person who has been conspicuous by her absence during the Bathukamma festival was Bharat Rashtra Samithi MLC and former chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao's daughter Kalvakuntla Kavitha.

Whether one agrees or not, Kavitha’s name has been closely associated with Bathukamma festival, though it has been a centuries-old traditional celebration.

It was Kavitha who had undoubtedly created brand for Bathukamma festival through a variety of programmes under the banner of Telangana Jagruthi.

Thanks to the patronage from her father during the 10-year BRS regime, Kavitha had been enthusiastically participating in the Bathukamma festival.

She took this festival to every nook and corner of the country; even made it global by conducting the celebrations among the Telangana NRI women.

In a way, Kavitha had become a brand ambassador for Bathukamma festival and she has become a synonymous name for the festival. So much so that when people talk about Bathukamma festival, one would definitely remember Kavitha’s name.

However, this year, Kavitha had where been seen in the festival. While the Delhi liquor scam, involving her, damaged her reputation, she has also not been keeping good health; and hence, she reportedly preferred to stay away from the festivities.

Thirdly, the BRS is not power and there is no way, Kavitha could get good patronage from the government and also the necessary publicity. In fact, the Revanth Reddy government also decided not to continue the scheme of distribution of Bathukamma sarees this time.

Yet, Kavitha could have sustained the momentum through her organisation. Though she might not be in a position to directly take part in the celebrations, she could have asked his Jagruthi people to organise the festival in the villages in a big way, so that the BRS image will sustain.

But keeping away from all kinds of festivals has given the impression that Kavitha was not interested in the festival as such, but she only wants to bask in the glory of BRS in power!