Balindra Puja is a famous
puja conducted in the household of
Andhra Pradesh,
Tamil Nadu and
Karnataka. It is observed in the morning of the thirteenth day of the dark half of Ashwija. The puja is first offered to the water. The next day, the people perform a puja offering oil to
Lord Krishna.
On the new moon day, puja is offered to the image of Bali, which is artistically drawn on the ground. On the next day, cows are washed and puja is offered to the cows. A procession is conducted thereafter. A balindra is molded out of cow dung in a square shape. Shavanthi flowers are stuck on to it.
In the evening, there is an elaborate aarti of Varalakshmi, Mangal Gowri and Swarna Gowri. The day marks the beginning of one month of lighting of the kartika deepa at the door or threshold. The entire house is lit up and decorated with lamps of oil.
