Telangana Culture Shines Abroad, Says Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar

Telangana Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar has praised the efforts of expatriate Telangana and Telugu communities for preserving their mother tongue, cultural traditions and festivals abroad, saying their commitment is helping pass Telangana’s heritage on to future generations.

He said families living overseas were making a conscious effort to teach children Telugu and organise traditional celebrations such as Bathukamma and Bonalu, thereby keeping their cultural roots alive despite being thousands of kilometres away from their homeland. Their efforts, he said, were an example of how communities can preserve their identity while adapting to life in other countries.

The Speaker made the remarks during a meeting with members of the Telugu and Indian diaspora in Bern, Switzerland, where a Telangana legislative delegation is currently visiting as part of a foreign study tour organised under the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA). The interaction was arranged following an invitation from Prasad Kumar’s friend Brahmananda Reddy Bavigadda.

During the programme, Prasad Kumar unveiled the official website of the Switzerland Telugu Association and released the poster for this year’s Bathukamma celebrations. The launch marked another step by the community towards strengthening its cultural activities and connecting younger generations with their heritage.

The Speaker later held detailed discussions with representatives of the Switzerland Telugu Association. The delegation briefed him about plans to construct a Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple in Switzerland and explained the assistance required for the proposed project.

Prasad Kumar assured the representatives that he would take up the requirements related to the temple, including financial and other forms of assistance, with officials and representatives of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD). He said he would make efforts to facilitate the required support for the temple project.

Describing Bathukamma as much more than a flower festival, Prasad Kumar said it symbolises Telangana’s self-respect, women’s strength and the community’s close relationship with nature. He appreciated the Switzerland Telugu Association for celebrating the festival every year and contributing to the preservation and promotion of Telangana’s cultural traditions abroad.

He also called upon the community to make the October 24 Bathukamma celebrations in Switzerland a success. The event is being organised with the support of the Telangana government, with Tourism and Excise Minister Jupally Krishna Rao also scheduled to attend.

Telangana Legislative Council Chairman Gutha Sukhender Reddy, Deputy Chairman Banda Prakash and others participated in the programme.