In the state of Telangana, batukamma is the largest festival, celebrated in grand scale for 9 days. Goddess Gauri a reincarnation form of Laxmi is worshipped on the name of Bathukamma. Of course, no celebration in any culture would be complete without food. 5 or 9 types of naivedyam (prasadam) called saddulu is offered to Goddess Gouri on the 9th day. Shown in the picture are Nimmakaya saddi, Nuvvula saddi, karivepaaku saddi, Palli saddi, perugu saddi and minappappu saddi. For those who don’t know the Telugu language, they are lemon rice, sesame seeds rice, curry leaves rice, peanut rice, curd rice, and black gram (urad dal) rice.

Colorful flowers arranged in cone shape is the centric attraction. They represent the goddess Gouri. Floral batukamma is made by women in every household on the 9th day and immersed in nearby ponds or lakes. Flowers used to make Batukamma are Bera, Thangedu, Thamara, Gunugu, Banthi, Gummadi, Kanakambaram, Mandhara, and Ramabanam.

Day 1 being Engili Poola Bathukamma. It is celebrated on the Pethara Amasa (Mahalaya Amavasya – Bhadrapada Amavasya). Bathukamma is a festival of flowers and is celebrated for 9 days before Dasara, 10th day. 9th day is Saddula Batukamma, it is final and grand celebration of Batukamma. The Bathukammas prepared with layers of flowers immersed in water. It falls on Durga Ashtami day and sometimes it falls on Mahanavami day. On 9th day 9  varieties of Rice items called Saddulu are made and offered to goddess batukamma. 9 varieties of rice can be lemon rice, tamarind rice, urad dal rice, roasted gram dal rice, curd rice, curry leaves rice, coconut rice, sesame rice or peanut rice. In Telugu, nimmakaya pulihora, chintapandu pulihora, minapa pappu annam, putnaala annam, perugannam, karivepaku annam, kobbari annam, nuvvula annam, palli annam. Saddulu is not limited to these. Lot more varieties can be made.

Whether is it’s called Navaratri in north India or batukamma in south India, it is a celebration of great goddess Durga avatars. Both are celebrated for 9 days before Dasara and on 9th-day immersion takes place. At this auspicious occasion, celebrate with low-carb and low-sugar food without sacrificing genuine Indian taste with my recipes.