HYDERABAD: The Indian community in London which organised a programme as part of the festivities has thanked the National Health Services (NHS), its workers and Covid-19 warriors through an artwork of the London Tower Bridge put up at an event.
The Telangana Association of United Kingdom (TAUK) celebrated ‘Chenetha’ Bathukamma and Dasara in London. NRIs and Indian community organisations’ representatives from across the UK attended this event.
British MPs Virendra Sharma and Seema Malhotra along with Hounslow Mayor Bishnu Bahadur Gurung attended as special guests.
TAUK vice-president Shusmuna Reddy said special emphasis was laid on encouraging people to wear handlooms through organising the festivities as this is being promoted by Telangana IT minister KT Rama Rao.
Founder of TAUK Anil Kurmachalam said while the events were organised to encourage weavers back home in India and to impress upon the Indian community to wear handlooms this year, the Indian community felt it was also appropriate they thank the NHS and workers.
“Without their commitment, coming together with the community to hold celebrations would not have been possible,” he said. At the London Tower Bridge, the artwork which was put up read: “Thank you NHS and key workers.”
The Telangana NRI Forum (TeNF) in London also organised Bathukamma and Dasara festivities promoting Telangana arts, including filigree, Siddipet gollabama, Pembarti brass and Nirmal dolls.
Rajesh Agarwal, deputy mayor of London, who was the chief guest, applauded the promotion of Indian culture and promotion of the arts. Virendra Sharma, Seema Malhotra and Gurung, who participated in the festivities, lauded the Indian community for keeping alive its traditions and culture, Gampa Venugopal, founder-chairman, TeNF, said. TeNF president Pramod Anthati Goud, while thanking the participants for taking part in the largest Bathukamma festival in Europe, called for the promotion of Telangana arts across Europe.
