The eleventh day after the celebration of Diwali is marked as Dev Uthani Ekadashi which is symbolic of Lord Vishnu getting up after along sleep of four months.
The day is celebrated with enthusiasm
and with it begins all the auspicious ceremonies like marriages. In the
evening 11 diyas are lighted to welcome the Lord back to the world after
a long slumber.
According to the mythology it is also
believed that King Bali grew almost equivalent to Indra in powers so
Lord Vishnu, the savior of the earth disguised himself as a dwarf priest
(VAMAN) and went to his door for alms.
The king agreed to give whatever the
priest could measure in his three steps and then the lord with his
majestic from measured Mrityu-lok; the world in one step, Swarag-lok;
the world above in the second step and there remained no place to keep
his third step so the king offered him his head and he was moved to
Patal-lok; the underworld by the foot of Vishnu during his Vaman Avatar.
However, the god promised to be his
gatekeeper for four months every year as he was a great devotee and
therefore sought the blessings of the god in this form. So it is
believed that for these four months Lord Vishnu leaves his seat at Sheer
Sagar and goes to the underworld and therefore all auspicious
activities are postponed during this duration.
This day, i.e. 11th day in the waxing moon period of Kartik is celebrated as Prabhodhni Ekadshi and is sometimes also called as Choti Diwali.
The day marks the beginning of marriage
season among Hindu sects and on this day the devotees also perform the
symbolic marriage of Tulsi (The auspicious medicinal plant) with
Saligram (A Form of Lord Vishnu). The place is decorated with rangoli,
flowers and a new cloth is put on the plant and after aarti all pray for
the health and well being of family and friends.
Some people also burn fire-crackers on this day as part of celebration.
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