Hyderabad: Thousands of kilometres from Telangana, Bathukamma is blooming into more than a festival of flowers for the Telugu diaspora. From children discovering science through floral arrangements in New Zealand to large-scale celebrations in Malaysia and Dubai, the festival is emerging as a bridge between cultural roots and new generations growing up abroad.In New Zealand, the New Zealand Telugu Association (NZTA) organised a STEM-themed Bathukamma event on October 10, combining science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) activities with traditional floral arrangements, songs and cultural performances.The event featured hands-on activities and demonstrations to introduce children to scientific concepts through the festival. “Bathukamma offers opportunities to introduce scientific concepts through identifying flowers and studying their properties (botany), exploring natural flower pigments (chemistry), understanding the stability of tiered floral arrangements (engineering), and examining symmetry and patterns (mathematics). By explaining these concepts, we help children understand the significance of Bathukamma during the celebrations,” an association member said.In Malaysia, the NRI Association is preparing for its Oct18 celebrations, which are expected to draw around 1,500 participants, including representatives of local and NRI associations and Indian High Commissions.“When we started nearly 10 years ago, only about 200 people, mostly from Telangana, participated. Today, we bring together a much wider audience, including people from other Indian communities,” Bhureddy Mohan Reddy, the association’s working president, told TOI.In Dubai, the Emirates Telangana Cultural Association (ETCA) held its 16th annual Bathukamma celebration on Oct 11, drawing thousands of Telangana expatriates and other members of the Indian diaspora. A handwoven shawl featuring portraits of Dubai’s ruling family, created by Sircilla master weaver Veldi Hariprasad, was unveiled at the event.Other celebrations were held across the diaspora this season. The East Bay Bathukamma Festival in San Ramon, California, and another celebration organised by the Gulf Telangana Forum in Dubai also took place on Oct 11.