Bali Pratipada

Bali Pratipada, celebrated as Diwali Padwa in Maharashtra, is a many-sided celebration marking the start of the bright half of Kartik. In the Amanta calendar followed in Maharashtra, it is also the first day of the month. It commemorates the legendary benevolence and righteous reign of King Mahabali, and the appearance of Lord Vamana.

In Maharashtrian homes, Diwali Padwa is a cherished celebration of married love. Wives perform a loving aarti of their husbands (Owalane), praying for their longevity, health, and commercial success. In return, husbands express deep gratitude and love by presenting special gifts, jewelry, or clothes (Owalani) to their wives.

According to the Bhagavata Purana, King Mahabali was a noble and generous demon king whose kingdom enjoyed supreme prosperity, truthfulness, and contentment. However, his expanding power threatened the celestial order. Lord Vishnu assumed the form of the dwarf Brahmin Vamana and requested three paces of land.

With two cosmic strides, Lord Vamana covered the earth and the heavens. King Bali, upholding his word of honor, humbly offered his own head for the third stride. Deeply touched by Bali's supreme surrender and virtue, Lord Vamana sent him to rule the subterranean realm (Sutala). Tradition adds a boon: that once every year, on Kartika Shukla Pratipada, Bali would return to the earth to visit his subjects. The famous Marathi blessing captures this sentiment: 'Ida pida talo, aani Baliche rajya yevo!' ('May all pain and misery vanish, and may the benevolent, prosperous reign of King Bali return!').

• Wake early at dawn, bathe, and draw artistic rangolis at the entrance, including a depiction of King Bali and Queen Vindhyavali.
• Fashion a small symbolic idol of King Bali using five colors or rice flour, and worship him with flowers, chandan, and sweet offerings.
• The wife decorates a wooden seat (Patla) with rangoli for her husband.
• The husband sits facing east while the wife performs a loving aarti using a brass plate with a pure ghee lamp and sweet peda.