New Zealand Prime Minister participated in Bathukamma celebrations

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern became the first Prime Minister of any country in the world to participate in Bathukamma celebrations, giving an international moment of pride for the beloved festival of Telangana. She participated in the ‘Maha Bathukamma’ festival organised by the Telangana Association of New Zealand (TANZ) at Mt Eden War Memorial Hall in Auckland on Friday.

NRI Affairs Minister KT Rama Rao took to social media to thank the New Zealand Prime Minister for the warm gesture. He also wished TANZ and people from Telangana who participated in the celebrations at Auckland.

Ardern not only appreciated the unity and loyalty of the people from Telangana but also danced to the tunes of Bathukamma songs. “I understand that ‘Maha Bathukamma’ festival is celebrated to worship ‘Mother Goddess,’ and that women are the principal participants. I am delighted to see so many women of Telangana here. I wish all the people of this illustrious State on the occasion. Jai Telangana,” she said.

New Zealand Ethnic Communities Minister Jenny Salesa, Parliamentary Undersecretary to Ethnic Communities Michael Wood, National MPs Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi, Dr Parmjeet Parmar, TANZ president Kalyan Rao Kasuganti were among the main guests at the event. More than 2,000 people from Telangana and their friends participated in the celebrations.