City of Charlotte in North Carolina to celebrate Telangana Heritage week from 3-11 October to celebrate Telugu people's cultural heritage.
Published Sep 30, 2024 | 6:01 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 30, 2024 | 6:01 PM
Charlotte in North Carolina to celebrate Telangana Heritage Week
In an attempt to recognise Telangana’s cultural diversity, Charlotte in North Carolina has officially embraced the festival of Bathukamma and declared a week-long celebration of the state’s rich heritage from 3 to 11 October 2024.
Vi Alexander Lyles, Mayor of Charlotte issued a proclamation affirming the importance of the Telugu-speaking community and the profound impact it has on the city’s vibrancy and announced the celebration of ‘Telangana Heritage Week.’ Bathukamma is a floral festival celebrated predominantly by people in Telangana and some parts of Andhra Pradesh.
In her proclamation, Mayor Lyles noted, “The contribution of the Telugu language speaking community (from Telangana) towards the vibrancy and vitality of the city of Charlotte and North Carolina has become significant throughout its various organisations and events; the Charlotte Telugu speaking community from Telangana State of India has enriched Charlotte’s cultural diversity.”
Referring to Telangana people’s role in North Carolina’s progress, the proclamation read, “They are key participants in North Carolina’s progress in the fields of medicine, engineering, politics, legal, culture and tradition, and community welfare; and whereas, Bathukamma Panduga, or The Festival of Life, is a nine-day floral festival in Telangana; the festival is a celebration of the inherent relationship human beings share with the vital elements of earth and water.”
Talking about the festival that is also celebrated in some pockets of Andhra Pradesh, the mayor said, “The festival is filled with seasonal flowers on street corners, women folk dancing with joy and gaiety, and family reunions; and whereas, during the first week of October 2024, the Charlotte Telugu language speaking community of Telangana from across the State of North Carolina and across our great nation will collectively celebrate Bathukamma Panduga: Therefore I, Vi Alexander Lyles, Mayor of Charlotte, do hereby proclaim 3-11, October 2024 as ‘Bathukamma, a flower festival, and Telangana Heritage Week’.”
The proclamation garnered attention, particularly from the Charlotte chapter of the Global Telangana Association (GTA-Charlotte), which celebrated the mayor’s acknowledgment of their culture. Social media posts from the association highlighted the importance of this recognition in promoting the diverse heritage of Telangana and the contributions of the Telugu community to the local landscape.
This recognition is part of a broader trend in North Carolina, where the cultural contributions of the Telugu-speaking community have been increasingly acknowledged. In May 2023, Governor Roy Cooper declared 28 May to 3 June as “Telangana Heritage Week” in North Carolina, commending the observance to all citizens.
(Edited by Ananya Rao)
