Balipratipada
Encyclopedia
is the third day of Dipavali (Diwali), the Hindu
festival of lights. It is celebrated in honour of the notional return of the demon(Daitya
)-king Bali
to earth. Bali Padyami falls in the Gregorian calendar months October-November. It is the first day of the Hindu month
Kartika
and is the first day of the bright lunar fortnight (day after new moon
day) in the month. It is also called the Akashadipa (lights of the sky). It is celebrated as the first day of the Vikram Samvat calendar, in Western India.
According to Hindu mythology
, Bali Padyami commemorates the victory of god Vishnu
in his dwarf incarnation Vamana
, the fifth incarnation of the Dashavatara (ten major incarnations of Vishnu) defeating Bali, and pushing him to the nether world. But Bali was bestowed a boon by Vishnu to return to earth for one day on this day to be honoured and celebrated for his devotion to the Lord and for his noble deeds to his people.
, an Daitya
king was well known for his bravery, uprightness and dedication to god Vishnu. He was benevolent and his popularity was only marred by the actions of his kinsmen who involved themselves with depredations against the gods who stood for righteousness and justice. But Bali was also considered as arrogant and vainglorious and the godly people did not like him for this. Bali was also considered invincible since he was a great devotee of Vishnu. The gods, upset by the harassment meted out to them by the asuras, and jealous of the popularity of Bali - sometimes glorified as Mahabali ("the great Bali"), approached Vishnu to help them to get rid of Bali.
Vishnu took the form of a dwarf Vamana
. Vamana is Vishnu's fifth Avatar
(incarnation), out of his ten avatars that he is believed to have assumed to triumph over evil and usher peace, prosperity and happiness in this world. Vamana, the dwarf Brahmin, then approached Bali seeking reverence and alms. Aware of the generous nature of Bali, Vamana appeared before him and sought a gift of three paces of land from the king. Bali readily agreed. The dwarf then assumed his huge universal form (vishwarupa or "all pervading") and placed his first step forward, which occupied the entire universal space. With his second step he occupied the earth, except the space where Bali was standing. Since there was no other space available to put Vamana's third step, Bali readily offered his own head for Vamana to put his third step, fully realising that the person who was asking for such gift was none other than Vishnu himself. Vishnu banished Bali to patalaloka, the nether-world.
Pleased with the generosity of Bali, Vishnu grants him a boon that he could return to earth for one day in a year to be with his people and light millions of lamps to dispel the darkness and ignorance and spread the radiance of love and wisdom. It is this day that is celebrated as the Bali Padyami, the annual return of Bali from the netherworld to earth. However, in Kerala
, the Onam
festival (August/September) - the Keralite new year - marks the homecoming of the demon-king Bali (Mahabali). It is believed that Mahabali's kingdom is identified with present day Kerala. Vishnu, while banishing Bali to the netherworld, assured to keep him company as his spiritual mentor and preceptor. Another boon given to Bali was he would be the next Indra
(King of gods), Purandara is the current Indra.
Another version of the legend states that after Vamana pushed Bali below ground (patalaloka), at the request of Prahlada
(described as a great devotee of Vishnu), the grandfather of Bali, Vishnu pardoned Bali and made him the king of the netherworld. Vishnu also granted the wish of Bali to return to earth for one day for people to worship him. It is this day that is celebrated as Bali Padyami by lighting lamps and bursting crackers.
or Kolam
drawn with powder of rice in different colours, thereafter Bali and his wife Vindhyavali are worshipped. Symbolically, seven forts are also built out of clay or cow dung to worship Bali. In the evening, as night falls, door sills of every house and temple are lighted with lamps arranged in rows. People remember Bali's kingdom with the slogan: "Let the ideal kingdom of Bali dawn at the earliest on earth."
Another observance that is practised, mostly in North India, on this day is of playing the gambling game called pachikalu (dice game), which is linked to a legend. It is believed that god Shiva
and his consort Parvati
played this game on this festival day when Parvati won. Following this, their son Kartikeya played with Parvati and defeated her. Thereafter, his brother, the elephant-headed god of wisdom Ganesha
played with him and won the dice game. But now this gambling game is played only by family members, symbolically, with cards.
In Maharashtra
, it is celebrated as Padva or Bali Pratipada. The day is linked to worship of king Bali. Men present gifts to their wives on this day.
The farming community celebrates this festival, particularly in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, by performing Kedargauri vratam (worship of goddess Kedar-Gauri - a form of Parvati), Gopuja (worship of cow), and Gouramma puja (worship of Gauri - another form of Parvati). Before worship of cows, on this day, the goushala (cowshed) is also ceremoniously cleaned. On this day, a triangular shaped image of Bali, made out of cow-dung is placed over a wooden plank designed with colourful Kolam decorations and bedecked with marigold
flowers and worshipped.
The day is celebrated as Govardhan Puja
in North India
. It is celebrated to observe the lifting of Govardhana hill by god Krishna
to save his kinsmen and cattle from rain and floods.
Hinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
festival of lights. It is celebrated in honour of the notional return of the demon(Daitya
Daitya
In Hinduism, the Daityas are a clan or race or Asura as are the Danavas. Daityas were the children of Diti and the sage Kashyapa. They were a race of giants who fought against the Devas because they were jealous of their Deva half-brothers...
)-king Bali
Mahabali
Mahabali , also known as Bali or Māveli was a benevolent Asura King, and the grandson of Prahlada. The festival of Onam commemorates his yearly homecoming after being sent down to the underworld by Vamana, the fifth avatar of Vishnu.-Conquest of the Universe and banishment:Bali, an asura, was the...
to earth. Bali Padyami falls in the Gregorian calendar months October-November. It is the first day of the Hindu month
Hindu calendar
The hindu calendar used in ancient times has undergone many changes in the process of regionalization, and today there are several regional Indian calendars, as well as an Indian national calendar. Nepali calendar, Bengali calendar, Malayalam calendar, Tamil calendar, Telugu calendar, Kannada...
Kartika
Kartika (month)
Kartika , is a month of Hindu and Bengali calendars, named after the Hindu god, Kartikeya....
and is the first day of the bright lunar fortnight (day after new moon
New moon
In astronomical terminology, the new moon is the lunar phase that occurs when the Moon, in its monthly orbital motion around Earth, lies between Earth and the Sun, and is therefore in conjunction with the Sun as seen from Earth...
day) in the month. It is also called the Akashadipa (lights of the sky). It is celebrated as the first day of the Vikram Samvat calendar, in Western India.
According to Hindu mythology
Hindu mythology
Hindu religious literature is the large body of traditional narratives related to Hinduism, notably as contained in Sanskrit literature, such as the Sanskrit epics and the Puranas. As such, it is a subset of Nepali and Indian culture...
, Bali Padyami commemorates the victory of god Vishnu
Vishnu
Vishnu is the Supreme god in the Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism. Smarta followers of Adi Shankara, among others, venerate Vishnu as one of the five primary forms of God....
in his dwarf incarnation Vamana
Vamana
Vamana is described in the Puranic texts of Hinduism as the Fifth Avatar of Vishnu, and the first incarnation of the Second Age, or the Treta yuga. Also he is the first Avatar of Vishnu which appears with a completely human form, though it was that of a dwarf brahmin. He is also sometimes known as...
, the fifth incarnation of the Dashavatara (ten major incarnations of Vishnu) defeating Bali, and pushing him to the nether world. But Bali was bestowed a boon by Vishnu to return to earth for one day on this day to be honoured and celebrated for his devotion to the Lord and for his noble deeds to his people.
Legend
According to Hindu mythology, BaliMahabali
Mahabali , also known as Bali or Māveli was a benevolent Asura King, and the grandson of Prahlada. The festival of Onam commemorates his yearly homecoming after being sent down to the underworld by Vamana, the fifth avatar of Vishnu.-Conquest of the Universe and banishment:Bali, an asura, was the...
, an Daitya
Daitya
In Hinduism, the Daityas are a clan or race or Asura as are the Danavas. Daityas were the children of Diti and the sage Kashyapa. They were a race of giants who fought against the Devas because they were jealous of their Deva half-brothers...
king was well known for his bravery, uprightness and dedication to god Vishnu. He was benevolent and his popularity was only marred by the actions of his kinsmen who involved themselves with depredations against the gods who stood for righteousness and justice. But Bali was also considered as arrogant and vainglorious and the godly people did not like him for this. Bali was also considered invincible since he was a great devotee of Vishnu. The gods, upset by the harassment meted out to them by the asuras, and jealous of the popularity of Bali - sometimes glorified as Mahabali ("the great Bali"), approached Vishnu to help them to get rid of Bali.
Vishnu took the form of a dwarf Vamana
Vamana
Vamana is described in the Puranic texts of Hinduism as the Fifth Avatar of Vishnu, and the first incarnation of the Second Age, or the Treta yuga. Also he is the first Avatar of Vishnu which appears with a completely human form, though it was that of a dwarf brahmin. He is also sometimes known as...
. Vamana is Vishnu's fifth Avatar
Avatar
In Hinduism, an avatar is a deliberate descent of a deity to earth, or a descent of the Supreme Being and is mostly translated into English as "incarnation," but more accurately as "appearance" or "manifestation"....
(incarnation), out of his ten avatars that he is believed to have assumed to triumph over evil and usher peace, prosperity and happiness in this world. Vamana, the dwarf Brahmin, then approached Bali seeking reverence and alms. Aware of the generous nature of Bali, Vamana appeared before him and sought a gift of three paces of land from the king. Bali readily agreed. The dwarf then assumed his huge universal form (vishwarupa or "all pervading") and placed his first step forward, which occupied the entire universal space. With his second step he occupied the earth, except the space where Bali was standing. Since there was no other space available to put Vamana's third step, Bali readily offered his own head for Vamana to put his third step, fully realising that the person who was asking for such gift was none other than Vishnu himself. Vishnu banished Bali to patalaloka, the nether-world.
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
, the Onam
Onam
Onam is a Hindu festival celebrated by the people of Kerala, India. The festival commemorates the Vamana avatar of Vishnu and the subsequent homecoming of the legendary Emperor Mahabali. It falls during the month of Chingam and lasts for ten days...
festival (August/September) - the Keralite new year - marks the homecoming of the demon-king Bali (Mahabali). It is believed that Mahabali's kingdom is identified with present day Kerala. Vishnu, while banishing Bali to the netherworld, assured to keep him company as his spiritual mentor and preceptor. Another boon given to Bali was he would be the next Indra
Indra
' or is the King of the demi-gods or Devas and Lord of Heaven or Svargaloka in Hindu mythology. He is also the God of War, Storms, and Rainfall.Indra is one of the chief deities in the Rigveda...
(King of gods), Purandara is the current Indra.
Another version of the legend states that after Vamana pushed Bali below ground (patalaloka), at the request of Prahlada
Prahlada
Prahlada is a character from the Puranic texts of Hinduism, wherein he is famed for his exclusive devotion to Vishnu, despite attempts in the story by his father, Hiranyakashipu, to turn him to the contrary...
(described as a great devotee of Vishnu), the grandfather of Bali, Vishnu pardoned Bali and made him the king of the netherworld. Vishnu also granted the wish of Bali to return to earth for one day for people to worship him. It is this day that is celebrated as Bali Padyami by lighting lamps and bursting crackers.
Rituals
The rituals observed on the Bali Padyami day have variations from state to state. In general, on this sacred festival day, Hindus exchange gifts, as it is considered a way to please Bali and the gods. After the ceremonial Oil Bath [a particular usage in Indian English, which denotes that oil is smeared over the body and then washed by soap or shikakai (means "fruit for hair" and is a traditional shampoo used in India), during bath] (considered essential as purification of selfish desires) by all the family members, wearing of new clothes is kind of mandatory. People decorate the main hall of the house with a RangoliRangoli
Rangoli is a traditional decorative folk art from India. These are decorative designs made on floors of living rooms and courtyards during Hindu festivals and are meant as sacred welcoming areas for the Hindu deities. The ancient symbols have been passed on through the ages, from each generation to...
or Kolam
Kolam
Kolam is a form of painting that is drawn using rice powder. A Kolam is a geometrical line drawing composed of curved loops, drawn around a grid pattern of dots. In South India, it is widely practised by female Hindu family members in front of their homes.-Purpose:Kolams are thought to bestow...
drawn with powder of rice in different colours, thereafter Bali and his wife Vindhyavali are worshipped. Symbolically, seven forts are also built out of clay or cow dung to worship Bali. In the evening, as night falls, door sills of every house and temple are lighted with lamps arranged in rows. People remember Bali's kingdom with the slogan: "Let the ideal kingdom of Bali dawn at the earliest on earth."
Another observance that is practised, mostly in North India, on this day is of playing the gambling game called pachikalu (dice game), which is linked to a legend. It is believed that god Shiva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
and his consort Parvati
Parvati
Parvati is a Hindu goddess. Parvati is Shakti, the wife of Shiva and the gentle aspect of Mahadevi, the Great Goddess...
played this game on this festival day when Parvati won. Following this, their son Kartikeya played with Parvati and defeated her. Thereafter, his brother, the elephant-headed god of wisdom Ganesha
Ganesha
Ganesha , also spelled Ganesa or Ganesh, also known as Ganapati , Vinayaka , and Pillaiyar , is one of the deities best-known and most widely worshipped in the Hindu pantheon. His image is found throughout India and Nepal. Hindu sects worship him regardless of affiliations...
played with him and won the dice game. But now this gambling game is played only by family members, symbolically, with cards.
In Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
, it is celebrated as Padva or Bali Pratipada. The day is linked to worship of king Bali. Men present gifts to their wives on this day.
The farming community celebrates this festival, particularly in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, by performing Kedargauri vratam (worship of goddess Kedar-Gauri - a form of Parvati), Gopuja (worship of cow), and Gouramma puja (worship of Gauri - another form of Parvati). Before worship of cows, on this day, the goushala (cowshed) is also ceremoniously cleaned. On this day, a triangular shaped image of Bali, made out of cow-dung is placed over a wooden plank designed with colourful Kolam decorations and bedecked with marigold
Tagetes
Tagetes is a genus of 56 species of annual and perennial mostly herbaceous plants in the sunflower family . The genus is native to North and South America, but some species have become naturalized around the world. One species, T...
flowers and worshipped.
The day is celebrated as Govardhan Puja
Govardhan Puja
Govardhan Puja, also called Annakut , is celebrated as the day Krishna defeated Indra. Lord Krishna taught people to worship nature, as mountains bring rains to earth and to stop worshiping the God of Rains, Lord Indra. His was the message that we should take care of our nature...
in North India
North India
North India, known natively as Uttar Bhārat or Shumālī Hindustān , is a loosely defined region in the northern part of India. The exact meaning of the term varies by usage...
. It is celebrated to observe the lifting of Govardhana hill by god Krishna
Krishna
Krishna is a central figure of Hinduism and is traditionally attributed the authorship of the Bhagavad Gita. He is the supreme Being and considered in some monotheistic traditions as an Avatar of Vishnu...
to save his kinsmen and cattle from rain and floods.