Balipratipada 2024: Date, Meaning and Significance

Indian festivals are culturally and spiritually relevant. We have worshipped not only Gods but also various demon gods, not only Gods. Balipratipada is a festival where we worship a demon king, Bali, and we’ll celebrate it on 2 November 2024. Let us explore its importance and other facts in detail!

Date and Timing Balipratipada 2024

• Balipratipada Date: 2 November, Saturday, 2024
• Puja Pratahkala Muhurat: 6:34 a.m. to 8:46 a.m.
• Sayankala Muhurat: 3:23 p.m. to 5:35 p.m.
• Tithi Begins: 6:16 p.m. on 1 Nov, 2024
• Tithi Ends: 8:21 p.m. on 2 Nov, 2024

What is Balipratipada?

We dedicate the festival, Balipratipada, to the Demon King, Bali. We celebrate it and Govardhan Puja on the fourth day after Diwali. Other names of this festival are Balipadyami, Akashadipa, Diwali Padwa, Bali Padwa, Bali Puja, Vira Pratipada, and Dwuta Pratipada.

Lord Vishnu took his fifth avatar, Vamana, on this day. People celebrate this festival grandly by wearing new clothes and exchanging gifts with each other. On this day, we honour King Bali and seek his blessings. In Gujarat, people celebrate this as Vikram Samvat Year (New Year’s Day). You have a high chance of becoming successful if you commence a new business project or invest on this day. In this year, we will celebrate Balipratipada on 2 November 2024.

Also Read: Rama Ekadashi 2024: Rituals, Significance And Puja Muhurat

Story and Importance of Balipratipada

The festival, Balipratipada, has an interesting story behind it. Bali was a powerful and generous demon king of the Asuras. He wanted to acquire the position of Lord Indra in Indraloka, so he performed 99 Ashwamedha Yajnas.

The Demi-Gods were scared that if he completed his 100th yajna, he might acquire the place of Indra and ask for anything beyond the limit. The Gods pleaded to Lord Vishnu to check Bali’s power. Vishnu accepted their plea and took birth as the son of Aditi (Indra’s mother). He took the Avatar of Vamana (a dwarf).

Lord Vishnu and King Bali

Vamana (Lord Vishnu’s avatar) visited the demon Bali when he was performing the 100th yajna. King Bali met and greeted Vamana, offering him gifts, horses, land, etc. Vamana refused to take those. He said he was the ruler of the three worlds—the earth, the world over the skies, and the underworld.

He wished to keep his foot on these. The demon king granted his request. He submerged the two worlds one by one but found no place to put his last step. King Bali understood that he was Lord Vishnu in the form of Vamana.

Bali offered his head to Lord Vishnu, who stepped on him and pushed him into Paatal Lok. His devotion pleased Lord Vishnu, and he granted him a boon that he would return to the earth for three days every year. Since then, we have welcomed his return and performed different rituals to seek his blessings. 

How Will We Celebrate Balipratipada in 2024?

We visit the temples of Lord Vishnu and offer him worship, seeking his blessings for us. On this occasion, people organise fairs, processions, cultural dances, and music. We offer the king Naivedyam to satisfy his hunger. You can draw the image of the demon king Bali and Vidyunmali (his wife) at the centre of the house.

This is an auspicious time for buying or selling properties and wedding rituals. We make rangoli with rice powder and food from wheat, rice, and vegetables. We also perform Bhai Dooj rituals by marking the foreheads of our brothers.

Balipratipada 2024 Celebrations in Maharashtra

In Maharashtra, we celebrate Balipratipada as Padwa, where we honour the bond of a married couple. Wives perform Aarti and mark a Tilak on their husbands’ foreheads. The husbands give their wives gifts and appreciate the love and respect they have for each other. People make flavorful dishes like Farshan, Puran poli, and Shrikhand and distribute them as Prasad.

In the rural areas of Maharashtra and Gujarat, people worship cattle for their contribution to agriculture. We decorate cows with garlands, and vermillion and turmeric are applied to their horns. Honouring the power of Bali, we organise traditional matches, including wrestling.

Balipratipada 2024 Celebrations in Karnataka

In Karnataka, people celebrate this festival as Balipadyami, offering prayers to the Tulsi plant. We make a sweet called Holige, which is shared with neighbours and relatives. On this day, we donate food to the needy. We worship a form of Goddess Parvati, Kedara Gauri, on Bali Pratipada.

On this day, we offer food to our ancestors and remember and pay respect to them. We organize a game of dice (Pachikalu) associated with the festival. People create clay or mud idols of King Bali and his wife, Vidyunmali. 

Also Read: Margashirsha Amavasya 2024: Meaning, Significance and Facts

Puja Vidhi of Balipratipada

We need to follow these Puja Vidhis in the festival:

• We should wake up early and take Sankalp (a vow) to worship King Bali and Lord Vishnu.
• People should place a clay idol of King Bali on the Altar and offer him flowers, food, incense, sweets, etc.
• You can worship the Vamana Avatar of Lord Vishnu, chant mantras, and offer him flowers and sweets.
• Govardhan Puja is performed on the same day. On this day, we can make a small mud hill.
• We need to distribute the prasad to the family members after puja.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Also Read: Govatsa Dwadashi 2024: Meaning, Significance and Facts

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