Balipadyami, the offerings and celebrations !!!

 I recently read somewhere, how rangoli was drawn with rice flour in ancient days to feed the ants, insects and birds.. This is Balipadyami rangoli - cowdung ball, decorated with flowers maize, ragi sticks with a piece of pumpkin in front of  neighbor's house.. Rice flour has been replaced by white sand these days, but grains n pumpkin still adds to the reason why rangoli would have been started... While karthika Padya is celebrated as Bali Padiyami, its also Govardhan Pooja on this day. While the cowdung ball with flowers signifies the welcoming of King Bali to earth, it also signifies the Govardhan Hill/Parvat with the flourished flowers and grains topping it. 

Asura King Bali was one of the seven Chiranjivis(immortals). Bali had the blessing by Vishnu of being immortal, and he was equally charitable. His arrogance and vainglorious made other gods to request Vishnu to get rid of him. Vishnu in this incarnation as Vamana a dwarf saint visit Bali and asks for charity. Bali promises him to give anything he wished for. Vamana ask 3 footstep ground for himself. Bali accepts his request looking at the small boy's foot. Vamana soon turn into a giant, while he cover Swarga lokha(heaven) and bhoo lokha(earth) in his first 2 steps, Bali offer his own head for the third step. Vamana stamp Bali to Pathala Lokha covering the third step. Bali is said to return to his kingdom on earth once in a year on this day of Balipadyami, where people of his kingdom welcome him through celebrations.

Kajjaya/Adhirasam is one dish, which is not missed in any homes in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana on Bali Padyami. Made of rice flour and jaggery, the sweet is freshly prepared the same morning. Call is Indian donuts, the soft, juicy rings are topped with white sesame to make them more nutritious.