December 9, 2025, marks 16 years since the Centre announced in 2009 that Telangana would become a separate state. On this day, Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, with his Cabinet team, virtually unveiled Telangana Talli statues at 27 district Collectorates. The statues honor the spirit of Telangana and its farming roots. The Telangana Talli statue is inspired by a traditional rural woman farmer. Her left hand holds the State’s main crops—maize, corn, and foxtail millet—while her right hand signals prosperity. The statue features cultural symbols like a red bindi, clay bangles, an anklet, and a nose stud, reflecting Telangana’s traditions. The statue is 12 feet tall, standing on a six-foot pedestal for a total height of 18 feet. New statues are planned in Adilabad, Karimnagar, Warangal, Mulugu, Nalgonda, and Narayanpet. Last year, the Chief Minister declared December 9 as ‘Telangana Talli Avatarana Dinotsavam.’ This date is also Sonia Gandhi’s birthday. The statue at the Telangana State Secretariat was unveiled on this day last year. The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) party calls this day ‘Deeksha Divas,’ remembering the 11-day hunger strike by party president and former CM K. Chandrashekar Rao. He ended his strike after ex-Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram announced the separate state formation process. Meanwhile, the Congress party celebrates Sonia Gandhi’s birthday with special programs at Gandhi Bhavan in Nampally, Hyderabad, honoring her role as UPA chairperson during the Telangana announcement. This important day continues to carry political and cultural significance for the people of Telangana.