GATeS Hosts 20th Anniversary Bathukamma & Dasara Celebration with World’s Biggest & Tallest Bathukamma in Atlanta

Atlanta, Georgia, Sunday, September 28th, 2025: The Greater Atlanta Telangana Society (GATeS) marked its 20th anniversary in spectacular fashion by organizing one of the most historic cultural celebrations in the United States — the World’s Biggest & Tallest Bathukamma, now made even more special with the inclusion of Dasara festivities.

The grand celebration, held in Atlanta, brought together over 5,000 people to honor Telangana’s rich cultural heritage and celebrate womanhood, tradition, and divine strength through the vibrant Bathukamma and Dasara festivals.

Standing tall at an awe-inspiring 43 feet, this Bathukamma was officially the tallest ever built globally, and the first of its kind in America — a remarkable tribute to Telangana tradition, community spirit, and the dedication of Greater Atlanta Telangana Society (GATeS) volunteers.

A Monumental Effort of Community Spirit

The concept for this massive Bathukamma was envisioned over a year ago by Architect Anand Bukka Garu and President Naveen Battini, whose collaborative vision laid the foundation for this grand project. With strategic planning and guidance from Chairman Naveen Vujjini, the GATeS team executed the build over several months, involving more than 50 dedicated volunteers working tirelessly in various shifts to bring this dream to life in Atlanta.

The structural design and artistic vision were led by Anand Bukka Garu, who served as the chief architect of the Bathukamma structure. His tireless dedication and creativity were instrumental in bringing this landmark vision to life in Atlanta, Georgia.

More than 50 volunteers worked around the clock in shifts to construct the massive Bathukamma, wrapping it with over 25,000 feet of vibrant flowers. The structure stood as a symbol of devotion, unity, and celebration — a true gift to Telalganites across the globe, and especially to all women around the world.

A Cultural Extravaganza
The program commenced with the traditional lighting of the lamp, followed by an array of cultural performances that showcased the richness of Telangana’s artistic traditions. Highlights included:
• A Devotional singing performance by the Sravanthi team
• Energetic traditional dances by the Sahitya Dance Group

• Enthusiastic Kolatam performance by Priya’s team (thank you Banjara banquets)
• Traditional Gauri Pooja performed by HTA Priest
• Live music by artists from Telangana, including Dandepally Srinivas, Relare Ganga, and Padmavathi Mamidala, who performed non-stop for three hours

• Dasara Celebrations – Durga natha Pallaki Seva and Jammi aaku Tradition.
While the music played, thousands of women joyfully danced around the colossal Bathukamma, celebrating their culture and sisterhood in a vibrant display of devotion and festivity.

As part of the Dasara celebrations, we joyfully conducted the Pallaki Seva, a ceremonial procession honoring the deities with devotion and grandeur. One of the highlights was the exchange of Jammi aaku, a symbolic gesture of respect, goodwill, and prosperity shared among all participants.

A Festival for the Entire Community
The event also featured Telangana-themed decorations, including the iconic Kakatiya Thoranam decoration by Madhavi Garu, as well as food stalls, vendor booths, and interactive experiences that transported attendees straight to the heart of Telangana.

Photography and videography were beautifully captured by Raghu Valusani (3rdI) and video by Sharath Goparaju, preserving the memories of this grand occasion. Special thanks to ByteGraph-Prashant for the amazing music system and Thanks to all vendors, well-wishers and Atlanta Community.

The event would not have been possible without the generous support of sponsors including: Experior Group (Vijay Vinjamara), Dr. Sreeni Gangasani, Reddy CPA, Food Sponsors: Biryani World and Rang. A heartfelt thank you also goes out to all the yearly sponsors and community supporters who have stood by GATeS over the years.

We had the honor of felicitating all our esteemed guests during the event. A special mention goes to Sudhir Kodati Garu, who was our distinguished guest. He played a pivotal role in the early 2000s by promoting and spreading the spirit of Bathukamma across various cities and even globally. His early contributions have been instrumental in bringing the vibrant festival to a wider audience and preserving its cultural significance beyond borders.

A Message to the Volunteers
This historic event stands as a shining example of what a community can achieve through passion, teamwork, and love for tradition. To all the GATeS volunteers, EC, BOD, Advisory, Past Leadership and Sponsors — your dedication, selfless service, and unwavering commitment made the impossible possible.

Your hard work did not just build a towering structure of flowers, but a legacy that will inspire generations of Telanganites across the world. Thank you to all media partners- NRI2NRI.COM, TV5, SakshiTV, TV9, Mana TV and all other community members and photographers and videographers who helped to reach GATeS Bathukamma across the world.

As Greater Atlanta Telangana Society (GATeS) celebrates 20 years of cultural preservation and community service, this grand Bathukamma event echoes far beyond Atlanta — resonating with pride, joy, and unity across the entire USA and globally.

For more pictures of the Greater Atlanta Telangana Society (GATeS) Bathukamma and Dussehra celebrations event, visit www.NRI2NRI.com/GATeS Bathukamma & Dussehra 2025.