ॐ Hindu Of Universe ॐ
“God’s light is within you, It never leaves you.”
India celebrates many festivals with full fervor and enthusiasm.
As per Indian tradition, the celebration of the five-day Diwali festival begins with an auspicious day called “Dhanteras”.
It is a Sanskrit word which is made of two words – “Dhan” which means wealth, and “Teras” means the 13th day.
As per the Hindu calendar, the thirteenth lunar day of Karthik month is celebrated as Dhanteras which is also known as Dhanatrayodashi.
On the occasion of Dhanteras, devotees worship Lord Dhanvantari, Goddess Lakshmi, and Kubera.
On this auspicious day, Hindus love to buy gold, silver, automobile, utensils, property, and other precious goods for a prosperous future.
Significance of Dhanteras: On this day, Hindu devotees worship Goddess Lakshmi and God Dhanvantari to receive their blessings for a healthy, happy and wealthy life.
According to the popular legend of Samudra Manthan, on this day of Trayodashi, the consort of Lord Vishnu, Goddess Lakshmi emerged out of the sea.
Therefore, Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped on Trayodashi.
Another legend says, during Samudra Manthan, God Dhanvantari, the God of medicine and an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, emerged out of the sea carrying a Kalash (pot) of Amrit (the divine nectar of immortality) in one hand and the sacred textbook about Ayurveda in the other hand.
Hindus also worship God Dhanvantari, who is considered to be the Vaidya (healer) of Gods.
He had imparted the wisdom of Ayurveda to mankind to live a disease-free life.
Thus, Dhanteras is also celebrated as Dhanvantari Jayanti.
During the puja, devotees recite the following mantra 108 times to praise the God Dhanvantri and to receive His blessing- Om Namoh Bhagvatey Vasudevaya, Dhanvantraye Amritkalashaye Sarvamaya Vinashaye Trilokanathaya, Sri Mahavishnave Swaha.
How to celebrate Dhanteras?
- Since this day is considered extremely auspicious, Indian homes that have not yet been cleaned in preparation for Diwali are thoroughly cleaned and whitewashed.
Devotees decorate the main entrance of the house with colorful lanterns and lights. - Traditional motifs of Rangoli designs are made at the entrance of the house to welcome the God of health and Goddess of Wealth.
To welcome goddess Lakshmi, small footprints are drawn with rice flour and vermilion powder all over the house. - It is believed that Goddess Lakshmi visits every home of her devotees to fulfill their wishes on Dhanteras.
People light diyas (lamps) and let them burn all through the divine night of Dhanteras in honor of Lakshmi and Dhanvantari. - Hindus make new purchases on this auspicious day, especially of gold or silver articles, and new household appliances, as we believe that new form of wealth or some precious metal would bring good fortune.
It is a common belief in India that purchasing gold and silver on Dhanteras brings more wealth and prosperity.
On this night, Hindus decorates their puja room with incense sticks, Diyas (lamps of clay), and flowers to perform Lakshmi Puja.
They offer fruits and traditional sweets such as Halwa, made of wheat flour.
They sing prayers, bhajans, devotional songs in praise of Goddess Lakshmi and God Dhanvantari. - Though it is not known to many devotees, some people observe fast on this day from morning to sunset.
They first offer Panchamrit made of curd, milk, honey, sugar, and ghee to the Gods, and then the fast is broken by taking it as a prasad.
This is done after the Kuber- Lakshmi Puja in the Pradosh Kaal (evening hour).
Afterward, they eat sattvic food.
Activities to avoid on this day: - Do not worship idols made of glass- As per different stories from Puranas, a devotee should worship clay, silver, and gold idols of Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi. Devotees must avoid buying glass items and glass idols.
- Do not lend/borrow money – As per popular belief, people should not lend or borrow money on this auspicious day of Dhanteras.
It may upset Goddess Lakshmi, and She may leave your house and go to some other person. - Do not keep footwears at the main door of your home – Keep the main entrance of the house neat and clean and remove shoes, slippers, and any kind of dirt or trash from that place.
It may upset the Goddess Lakshmi while entering your house and She may turn Her divine feet towards another direction.
Legend: According to an ancient legend, an interesting story begins with a popular king named Hima whose son was predicted to die by snake-bite on the fourth day of his marriage.
However, Hima’s daughter-in-law saved the life of her husband from dying by preventing the god of death, Yamaraj from entering her chamber.
On that particular D-day, Hima’s daughter-in-law did not allow her husband to sleep.
She laid a lot of gold jewelry and many silver coins at the entrance of her room and lit many lamps.
Then she narrated stories, sang devotional songs and mantras to keep her husband from falling asleep.
When Yamaraj, the god of death arrived at her doorstep in the guise of a serpent, his eyes were dazzled and blinded by the strong light coming from the glittering jewelry along with the lit bright lamps.
Yamaraj could not enter inside the Prince’s chamber, so he sat outside the chamber for the entire night listening to the stories and mantras.
In the morning, he left that place without hurting the young prince.
Thus, the young prince got a new life because of the cleverness of his new bride.
Since then people celebrate this auspicious festival Dhanteras.
Summary: Dhanteras is a much-awaited festival in India.
On this occasion, people like to buy precious metals and kitchenware with a belief that it may enhance their wealth and invite prosperity.
As per the tradition, they clean up their homes thoroughly a few days before this festival.
They decorate their homes with diyas (lamps), candles, paint, colorful flowers, and myriad other things with a strong belief that Goddess Lakshmi will visit their beautiful homes to fulfill their wishes.
During the evening hours, Hindu devotees worship Lord Ganesh, Goddess Lakshmi, God Dhanvantari.
and Kubera (the treasurer of entire wealth of the universe) for a happy, healthy, and blissful life.
Dhanteras what is the story behind Dhanteras
Dhanteras is celebrated on the first day of the five day long Diwali festival.
The suffix ‘Teras’ in Hindi is synonymous with the word Trayodashi in Sanskrit which refers to the thirteenth day of the waning phase of the moon.
The different rituals connected to Dhanteras aim at praying for the prosperity of the household and the health and long life of the husband.
On the day of Dhanteras, many households perform Laxmi puja.
Dhanteras sets the auspicious and celebrative mood for the Diwali celebrations.
Here is a highly interesting mythological story connected to Dhanteras.
The mythology story behind Dhanteras
Once upon a time, there was a king named Hima who ruled over his kingdom with justice and love as the two tools of his governance.
He had a son and the astrologers predicted that his son would face the end of his life due to snake bite on his sixteenth year.
A sense of deep anguish tormented King Hima’s heart and he searched for ways to save his son’s life.
As per the advice of a renowned astrologer, he got his son married to a girl who had a lucky horoscope. The couple lived happily for a few years.
The boy neared his sixteenth year and the king started worrying about the impending death of his son.
The girl launches an adventure
The astrological predictions said a snake would bite the boy when he stepped into his sixteenth year of life on the earth.
On the eve of the boy’s sixteenth birthday, the girl hatched a clever plan to save the life of her husband. She gathered all her jewels and piled them up in front of the main door.
She advised her husband not to sleep and she too stayed awake throughout the night. She sat near the entrance of the home guarding the main door.
Lord Yama arrives story
During the appointed hour of taking the boy’s life, Lord Yama, the god of death arrived in front of the house in the form of a serpent.
The snake crawled its way to the main door of the house.
When the snake was about to enter the door, the pile of ornaments stopped it on the way.
The ornaments were so dazzling that the snake could not see anything around it clearly. Meanwhile, the girl kept singing melodious songs throughout the night.
The songs were so alluring that the snake stayed at the doorstep enjoying the songs.
The time to take the life of the boy elapsed and Lord Yama in the form of snake had to give up his mission.
Thus the witty idea of the girl helped save the life of her husband.
Dhanteras was born story
This legend gave rise to the event of Dhanteras celebrated year on year on the same day of Krishna Paksha Trayodashi in the month of Kartika just before the Diwali festival.
The popular belief among the Hindus has helped continue this holy tradition that says Dhanteras is the surest way to invite prosperity into the household and seek the long life of the husband.
Why Indian people purchase gold on Dhanteras festival
Gold and gold ornaments are something integral to Indian tradition.
Gold is considered as a symbol of luck, prosperity, abundance and auspiciousness.
In fact people see gold as embodying Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth in it. Indians love gold
Indian households take a sentimental interest in buying gold.
India has recently overtaken China in becoming the largest importer of gold on the earth.
People consider it auspicious to buy gold on festivals like Makar Sankranti, Dussehra, Navratri, Gudi Parva, Diwali, Akshaya Tritiya and Dhanteras.
It is considered highly auspicious to buy gold on Dhanteras. Some of the beliefs attesting this tradition are discussed here.
Shopping for gold on Dhanteras
On the day of Dhanteras, the sale of gold reaches one of its annual peaks in India.
The term Dhanteras translates as dhan (wealth) teras (thirteenth day).
People buy gold bars, gold ornaments, gold coins silver coins or silver ware on this day.
The legend behind Dhanteras
Once upon a time, there was a king named Hima. He had a son of sixteen years.
The king got him married to a girl. Astrologers predicted that the prince would die of snake bite on the fourth day of his marriage.
This information made the king and the bride misery stricken.
The bride was a clever and highly devoted girl. She hatched a plan to save the life of her husband.
Dhanteras is celebrated for the first time
On the day when the astrologers had predicted the death of the boy, the girl collected all the ornaments and gold in the palace and placed them in a heap in front of the main door.
She advised the prince not to sleep and sat with him narrating some interesting stories and singing some melodious songs.
The couple sat awake throughout the night.
Lord Yama arrives
During the scheduled time of taking the prince’s life, Lord Yama arrived near the palace.
He took the form of a serpent which was supposed to bite the prince to death.
As the serpent neared the main door of the palace, the heap of ornaments and valuables blocked its way, the dazzling brilliance of the items nearly blinded the vision of the snake.
The snake could not enter the palace.
Meanwhile, the snake was charmed by the melodious songs sung by the girl.
Hence the snake laid there all night long listening to the songs.
The time of death lapses
The time that the planets had scheduled for the prince’s death elapsed and the serpent lost its mood to bite the prince.
Lord Yama in the disguise of the snake left the house without taking the life of the prince.
Thus, with her clever strategies and devotion to God, the girl could successfully save the life of the prince.
Dhanteras tradition begins
The legend of how the prince was saved from death inspired the tradition of buying gold on the day of Dhanteras.
Gold is kept in puja on the day and a lamp known as Yama Deep is lit in front of the main door seeking the blessings of Lord Yama and goddess Lakshmi.
10 things you should know about diwali festival
Year on year, Hindus, Sikhs and Jains eagerly await Diwali.
The whole world identifies Diwali as the most important festival of India.
In fact, over the recent past, other countries have also started celebrating Diwali to admire their ties with India and Indian culture.
Here are some interesting things you must know about Diwali before celebrating it.
Diwali is a highly significant festival for the Hindus
Diwali is described as the festival of lights marking prosperity and triumph of good over evil.
Hence, Diwali holds a prime significance in Hindu religion with several dimensions to it including religious, spiritual, social, cultural and psychological.
The festival of prosperity
Honoring Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and inviting her to every home is the most important theme of Diwali.
The array of lamps lighted on this occasion by every household is meant to invite Lakshmi into the house who brings with her wealth, goodness and development. Legends connected with Diwali
Diwali reminds us of many mythological stories in Hinduism.
Diwali marks the triumph of Lord Krishna over the demon Narakasur.
In Northern India, people celebrate the return of Sri Rama and Sita to the city of Ayodhya after defeating the mighty demon king.
Kali puja is famous in Bengal during Diwali.
Diwali is a pan India festival
Perhaps no other festival is celebrated with such a great enthusiasm than Diwali all over India.
The festival assumes different colors, flavors and styles across India. However, the spirit of Diwali brings all Indians together.
In fact Indians living abroad celebrate Diwali in a grand manner in a way inspiring the global communities around them.
Diwali and Jains
Diwali is a significant festival for the Jains as Lord Mahavira, the last Tirtankar of the religion is said to have attained Nirvana on October 15, 527 BC on the fourteenth day (Chaturdashi) of the Kartika month.
Diwali and Sikhs Sikhs celebrate Diwali as Bandi Chhor Divas as the history says that it was on the day of Diwali that Guru Har Gobind Ji freed himself and many Hindu Kings from the captivity of Jahangir, the Islamic ruler and reached the Golden Temple of Amritsar. In fact, it was on the day of Diwali in 1577 AD that the foundation stone was laid for the construction of the Golden Temple.
Socio-religious festival
Diwali is a socio-religious festival. Families come together to celebrate Diwali.
Newly married couple visit their in-laws house and receive fabulous gifts and sumptuous treats.
People spend luxuriously and dine merrily. New clothes, sweets, crackers and get-togethers make Diwali the most enjoyable festival.
Diwali brings more business
Businesses thrive during Diwali.
People buy new clothes, utensils, jewels, vehicles, household items, furniture, sweets, groceries and others and hence every business is seen performing at its peak during the Diwali season.
The economic activity across the country reaches the peak during Diwali. Diwali outside India
While many countries are coming out to organize Diwali celebrations, the largest celebration of Diwali outside India happens in the city of Leicester in UK.
The vibrant light shows, music and dance programs organized in this city are watched by thousands on this day on the streets.
Public holiday on Diwali
Diwali is the most important public holiday in India.
Different countries have different versions of Diwali. In fact, Diwali is also a public holiday in many countries including Surinam, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Myanmar, Singapore, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Malaysia and Fiji.
Dhanteras
Diwali, the festival of lights, commences with Dhanteras, which is one of the most auspicious and religious days.
On the day of Dhanteras, many pujas and rituals are practised by the people. One popular ritual that everyone follows is the custom of purchasing metals, especially gold.
People believe that buying gold on Dhanteras will bring money, fortune, and good health. Dhanteras will be observed on 23 October in India by all the Hindu devotees on a grand scale.
People are eagerly waiting to celebrate Dhanteras .
It is a day that is filled with happiness, joy, and good vibes because it marks the beginning of Diwali.
Hindu devotees conduct prayers and wear new clothes on this day.
They also send gifts and good wishes to their loved ones on Dhanteras.
People spend time with their families.
As we are gearing up to celebrate the festival of Dhanteras, one should know the story behind it.
There are two stories linked to this festival that have made the day extremely auspicious.
Dhanteras : Story Behind the Festival
Story of King Hima’s Son
As per the mythology, King Hima’s son was supposed to pass away on his fourth wedding anniversary.
He was only 16 years old and the cause of his death would be a snake bite.
History and Significance of Dhanteras
Dhanteras, also called Dhanavantri Trayodashi and Dhanatrayodashi, marks the commencement of Diwali celebrations across India.
It falls on the 13 th lunar day (Trayodashi Tithi) of Krishna Paksha or Dark Fortnight.
On this day, which will be celebrated on 23 rd October this year, people buy utensils, jewellery, vehicles, and home/kitchen appliances, as they believe that the festival of Dhanteras is auspicious for buying metals.
Devotees worship Goddess Lakshmi on Dhanteras for happiness, prosperity, and wealth.
History of Dhanteras
Like many other religious festivals, Dhanteras is also associated with a few popular Hindu mythological anecdotes.
Many people dedicate Dhanteras to medicine Lord Dhanvantri, while others spend their time worshipping Lord Yamaraj and Goddess Lakshmi.
You will find three major folklore related to Dhanteras. Of the three, two are part of the Samudra Manthan, while one is associated with Lord Yamaraj.
Story of Lord Dhanvantri:
According to age-old Hindu texts, Dhanvantri is considered the god of Ayurveda and Medicine.
It’s believed that he was the one who imparted knowledge of Ayurveda to mankind and helped them get rid of diseases. On Dhanteras, devotees pray to Lord Dhanvantri for curing chronic illnesses through Ayurveda.
Besides, it’s also believed that Lord Dhanvantri was a physician to all the Hindu gods.
Ancient Hindu mythological books claim that Dhanvantri was a manifestation of Lord Vishnu and was born via Samudra Manthan, or the churned sea, with a book based on Ayurveda and an Amrit pot in his hands.
Story of Goddess Lakshmi:
Another legendary story on Dhanteras is associated with Goddess Lakshmi. According to Hindu mythology, Goddess Lakshmi emerged through Samudra Manthan, sitting on a lotus, with a vessel stocked with gold, symbolizing good fortune, prosperity, happiness, and wealth.
Devotees make beautiful rangolis at their main door and light up their homes with diyas to welcome Goddess Lakshmi and seek her blessings.
Besides, daughters are referred to as Goddess Lakshmi in Hindu families or as an embodiment of good luck.
Rituals of Dhanteras and Lakshmi Pooja also manifest the belief that when daughters or daughters-in-law leave behind their foot impressions at the entrance of their house using ‘kumkum,’ the family is blessed with success and prosperity.
Story of Lord Yamaraj:
Lastly, the third and most interesting story is based on King Hima’s son, whose horoscope predicted that he’d die on the 4 th day after his marriage because of a snake bite.
However, upon hearing this, his wife made the decision to turn her husband’s fate around.
She ensured that her husband didn’t sleep on the 4 th day of their marriage by narrating stories and keeping him awake.
To deceive the snake, she made a pile of all her coins and ornaments at their sleeping chamber’s entrance and lit several diyas.
When the god of death, Yamaraj, arrived disguised as a snake, he couldn’t see anything due to the brightness of the diyas and the metals.
It is believed that Lord Yamaraj stayed there the entire night and left the following morning silently, without killing King Hima’s son.
For this reason, Dhanteras is also known as Yamadepdaan, where people offer earthen diyas to Lord Yamaraj to please him and pray for the long lives of their family.
Significance of Dhanteras
On the evening of Dhanteras, devotees seek the blessings of Lord Dhanvantri and Goddess Lakshmi to bring peace and happiness to their homes.
In Hindu culture, its believed that Goddess Lakshmi only enters a neat and clean house.
Hence, on Dhanteras, people clean their houses to attract and invite Goddess Lakshmi into their abode.
They light diyas, make rangolis, and put torans at the entrance. Many also worship Lord Yamaraj at night and offer their prayers to seek his blessings.
People consider Dhanteras extremely auspicious for purchasing silverware, gold earrings for women, or anything related to metal.
They believe it brings good luck and wealth to them.
Besides, a few also prefer worshiping their main income source, as the shopkeepers worship their place of work, and farmers worship their beautifully-adorned cattle.
Conclusion:
Dhanteras isn’t just a festival. It is a beautiful blend of fascinating mythology, hope, worship, and festivity.
People in India dress up in traditional Indian wear and celebrate the festival with utmost zeal and pomp.
We hope that this day brings fresh hopes, new dreams, and pleasant moments in your life. Happy Dhanteras!
Dhanteras Meaning and Significance
The Dhanteras festival marks the beginning of the five-day long Diwali celebrations all over India .
The word Dhanteras is constituent of the terms ‘dhan’ which means wealth and ‘teras’ which means thirteenth, hence it is a festival observed on the thirteenth lunar day of Krishna Paksha, of the Hindu month of Kartik (October-November), which falls just two days before Diwali, wherein people oblate to be blessed with prosperity and good health.
Dhanteras is also known as ‘Dhantrayodashi’ and ‘Dhanvantari Trayodashi’.
Story of Dhanteras
According to ancient legends, the celebration of Dhanteras is attributed to the story of the sixteen year old son of king Hima.
Predictions were made that he would die of a snake bite on the fourth day of his marriage.
Four days hence his marriage, his newly wedded wife, being aware of this prediction laid out all her ornaments along with coins made of precious metals of gold and silver in a heap at the entrance of her husband’s sleeping chamber and furbished the whole place with lamps.
Then, all night long she narrated stories and sang songs to keep her husband from falling asleep.
It is believed, that when Yama, the God of death, arrived under the guise of a snake, he found himself unable to enter the prince’s chamber as he was dazzled and blinded by the light of the lamps and jewellery, and so he climbed the heap of ornaments and coins and listened to the melodious songs of the wife.
In the morning, he quietly went away sparing the life of the prince.
In this manner, the young wife saved her husband from the clasp of death itself. Hence, this day also came to be known as ‘Yamadeepdaan’.
Another popular legend also associates itself with this festival.
It believes in the appearance of Dhanvantari (physician of the Gods and an incarnation of Vishnu), with a jar of elixir on the day of Dhanteras during the cosmic battle fought between the gods and demons, who had churned the ocean for Amrita or nectar.
Dhanteras Celebration
The Dhanteras festival is celebrated with great zeal and joy.
On this festival, people worship the Goddess of wealth and God of death, Lord Yama for receiving blessings in the form of good health and prosperity. People decorate their houses and offices.
Colorful, traditional rangolis adorn the entrance of all such premises; this is done to welcome the goddess of wealth and prosperity into our homes and work places.
Small footprints are drawn out with rice flour and vermilion powder to indicate the long-awaited arrival of Goddess Lakshmi.
Buying new utensils or coins made of precious metals such as gold or silver on Dhanteras has become very popular as it is considered auspicious and considered to bring good luck.
Dhanteras Puja
Dhanteras is marked with the performance of ‘Lakshmi Puja’ in the evenings. People sing devotional songs in praise of goddess Lakshmi.
They light up tiny diyas to drive all evil spirits away.
On the night of Dhanteras, people light the lamps for entire length of the night.
Traditional sweets are cooked and offered to the goddess.
Dhanteras is celebrated differently, in different parts of India.
This is a very important festival for the mercantile community of western India.
In the state of Maharashtra, people follow the custom of lightly pounding dry coriander seeds with jaggery and offering it as ‘Naivedya’.
In rural areas, farmers adorn and worship their cattle, as they act as their main source of income.
In south India, people consider cows as incarnations of goddess Lakshmi, and hence treat them with them particular reverence.
Unveiling the Significance of Dhanteras Festival: Celebrating Wealth and Prosperity
Introduction:
India, a land of rich traditions and diverse cultures, is known for its numerous festivals that hold immense significance.
One such festival celebrated with great enthusiasm and devotion is Dhanteras.
Falling on the thirteenth lunar day of the dark fortnight, Dhanteras marks the beginning of the illustrious festival of lights – Diwali.
Let’s delve deeper into the origin and customs behind this auspicious occasion.
Historical and Mythological Roots:
Dhanteras, also known as Dhantrayodashi, has two important mythological origins associated with it.
The first legend is associated with the churning of the cosmic ocean, known as Samudra Manthan.
It is believed that during this event, Lord Dhanvantari, the physician of the gods, emerged carrying a pot of elixir, symbolizing health and immortality. This celestial event led to the adoration of Lord Dhanvantari and the association of Dhanteras with wealth and well-being.
The second popular legend revolves around the story of King Hima’s sixteen-year-old son.
According to the tale, the prince’s horoscope predicted his death by a snake bite on the fourth day of his marriage.
To prevent this, his newly-wed wife kept him awake all night by adorning the entrance with gold coins, jewelry, and lit oil lamps.
Impressed by her dedication, Lord Yama, the god of death, disguised himself as a serpent and arrived at their doorstep.
However, he was dazzled by the radiance of the gold and lamps, sparing the prince’s life.
From then on, it became a tradition to worship wealth and nullify the effects of untimely death on Dhanteras.
The Rituals:
Dhanteras holds significant rituals and customs that are followed with great enthusiasm across India.
The preparation begins with meticulous cleaning and adornment of houses to welcome the goddess of wealth, Lakshmi.
In the evening, families gather for Lakshmi Puja, a traditional worship ceremony where prayers, incense, and flowers are offered to the deity. Devotees light oil lamps and decorate the entrance with colorful Rangoli patterns to invite wealth and prosperity into their homes.
One of the distinguishing practices of Dhanteras is the purchase of gold, silver, or utensils.
The belief is that making a new purchase on this day brings auspiciousness and symbolizes the continuous flow of wealth throughout the year.
Many people also purchase new vehicles, homes, or commence new business ventures, considering it an opportune time for success and expansion.
The Significance:
Dhanteras festival holds immense significance in people’s lives for a multitude of reasons.
Primarily, it encourages individuals to recognize the importance of material wealth as a resource for personal and societal growth.
It instills a sense of economic well-being and serves as a reminder to manage finances responsibly.
Furthermore, Dhanteras is a time to express gratitude and seek blessings from goddess Lakshmi to attain prosperity, abundance, and good fortune.
The festival becomes a unifying force as it brings families together, fostering a sense of togetherness, and strengthens the social fabric.
Conclusion:
Dhanteras festival, in its essence, is a celebration that epitomizes the desire for wealth and well-being.
With its historical and mythological significance, rich rituals, and emphasis on financial stability, Dhanteras forms an integral part of Indian culture.
It reminds us to appreciate the blessings we have, seek prosperity, and strive for a fulfilling life.
As the lamps illuminate every nook and cranny, the festival unfurls the promise of brightness and auspiciousness for the days to come.
FAQs for Dhanteras Festival:
Q1: What is Dhanteras?
A1: Dhanteras, also known as Dhanatrayodashi, is a Hindu festival celebrated two days before Diwali.
It falls in the month of Kartik (October/November) and holds great significance for wealth and prosperity.
Q2: Why is Dhanteras celebrated?
A2: Dhanteras is celebrated to honor and worship Lord Kubera, the god of wealth, and Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity.
It is believed that on this auspicious day, buying new items, especially ones made of metal such as gold, silver, or utensils, brings good luck and wealth.
Q3: When is Dhanteras celebrated?
A3: Dhanteras is celebrated on the thirteenth lunar day of Krishna Paksha (dark fortnight) in the month of Kartik.
It usually falls in October or November, according to the Gregorian calendar.
Q4: How is Dhanteras celebrated?
A4: On Dhanteras, people clean their houses, decorate them with rangoli, and light oil lamps to invite positivity and prosperity.
They also buy new items, primarily gold, silver, or utensils, as a token of good fortune.
It is customary to offer prayers to Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Kubera by chanting mantras and performing traditional rituals.
Q5: What is the significance of buying gold and silver on Dhanteras?
A5: Gold and silver are considered auspicious on Dhanteras as it is believed that bringing these metals home on this day will bring wealth and prosperity to the household.
It symbolizes good luck and is seen as an investment for the future.
Q6: Is Dhanteras only celebrated by Hindus?
A6: Dhanteras is predominantly celebrated by Hindus, but people of various religions and communities in India participate in this festival.
It is a time when people come together to celebrate and offer prayers for prosperity, regardless of their religious beliefs.
Q7: Can Dhanteras be celebrated without buying new items?
A7: Yes, Dhanteras can be celebrated without necessarily buying new items. The main essence of the festival lies in the prayers and seeking blessings for prosperity.
However, the traditional practice of purchasing new items, particularly gold, silver, or utensils, is considered auspicious.
Q8: Are there any specific sweets or dishes associated with Dhanteras?
A8: Yes, there are several traditional sweets and dishes associated with Dhanteras.
People often prepare and share sweets like kheer (rice pudding), ladoos (sweet dumplings), barfis (milk-based fudge), and halwa (sweet dessert) with friends and family members as a part of the festivities.
Q9: Are there any regional variations in the way Dhanteras is celebrated?
A9: Yes, there might be slight regional variations in the way Dhanteras is celebrated across different parts of India.
Customs, rituals, and traditional practices might vary, but the core idea of seeking blessings for wealth and prosperity remains the same.
Q10: How does Dhanteras mark the beginning of Diwali celebrations?
A10: Dhanteras is considered the first day of the five-day Diwali festival.
It sets the tone for the Diwali celebrations by focusing on prosperity and wealth.
The excitement and enthusiasm generated by Dhanteras continue to build up as the festival progresses with the celebration of Naraka Chaturdashi, Diwali Puja, Govardhan Puja, and Bhai Dooj.
Dhanteras
Dhanteras is celebrated by Hindus all over India and across the world.
It usually falls between October – November and marks the beginning of the five-day celebrations of Diwali.
It takes place two days before Diwali to honor Dhanvantari, an incarnation of Vishnu.
“Dhan” means wealth and “Teras” means 13th day.
Dhanteras is observed on the 13th day of Krishna Paksh in the Kartik month of the Hindi calendar.
This festival is also known as Yamadeep, Dhanatrayodashi or Dhanvantari Trayodashi
On this day, we pray for good health and wealth for the family.
Dhanteras is especially a very significant festival for the business community.
People purchase machinery and metals like iron, gold, brass, silver and copper as it is believed that if you obtain “dhan” or wealth on this day, it will make the Goddess of Wealth – Lakshmi – happy and she will visit your home, which will bring prosperity and wealth for the rest of the year.
Houses are cleaned thoroughly and decorated to look beautiful and welcoming.
People make Rangoli and light clay lamps to welcome Goddess Lakshmi. There is a Puja ceremony held, according to an auspicious time, prayers are offered.
Lakshmi and Ganesh idols are bought for the main “Puja” on Diwali day. While buying the idols it s kept in mind that the trunk of Ganeshji is turned towards the right as it is considered more auspicious.
Dhanteras Celebration
Diwali is a festival celebrated by all Hindus with lots of enthusiasm.
Lots of sweets, crackers, lights and lamps accompanied with beautiful Rangoli brings in a bundle of happiness.
Diwali – festival of lights is celebrated for five days which begins with Dhanteras celebration.
Here are some interesting facts about Dhanteras.
Rangolis, diyas, firecrackers, colourful lamps are ready and here we welcome the festival of Diwali.
The festival of lights – Diwali is a festival celebrated by all Hindus with lots of joy and excitement.
For Hindus, Diwali also signifies the beginning of New Year.
Diwali is celebrated for five days.
Dhanteras is the first day of Diwali festival which is followed by Kalichaudhas, Diwali, New Year and Bhai Dooj.
Read on and find interesting facts about the celebration of the very first day of Diwali festival called Dhanteras.
What is Dhanteras?
Dhanteras indicates the beginning of Diwali celebrations.
It is on this day on which people purchase precious metals with a belief that they will bring prosperity.
Dhanteras is also known as Dhantryaodashi or Dhanwantri Triodasi.
What does ‘Dhanteras’ mean?
According to the lunar calendar, Dhanteras falls on the thirteenth day of the Ashwin (October/November) month.
The word Dhanteras comes from the Sanskrit word Dhan which means wealth and Teras which means thirteen.
What is the significance of Dhanteras?
This day is devoted to worship Goddess Lakshmi, who is the Goddess of wealth according to Hindu mythology.
People purchase gold, silver and other utensils on this day to welcome prosperity in their houses.
They also purchase crackers, candles, diyas, lamps and most importantly clay idols of Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi to perform ‘Lakshmi Pooja’.
A girl born on this auspicious day is said to be very lucky, as it indicates the arrival of goddess Lakshmi into the house.
How is Dhanteras celebrated?
Dhanteras is celebrated two days before Diwali.
It is considered as a very auspicious occasion to buy or to gift gold and silver articles.
People decorate their houses with colourful lights and lanterns, beautiful Rangolis and also light diyas outside their houses.
Children burst a variety of crackers on this day.
Today, exchange of Dhanteras gifts is extremely popular. Special gifts for Dhanteras flood the markets.
Dhanteras festival is ideal time for setting up businesses, commencing new projects, celebrating housewarming, holding marriages, buying cars and investing in jewellery, as it is considered an auspicious day.
Besides Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists and Jains also celebrate this festival on a large scale.
Why is Dhanteras celebrated?
Dhanteras is mainly celebrated to get the blessings of Goddess Lakshmi. Everyone tries to make Goddess Lakshmi happy and for the same reason they also perform ‘Lakshmi Pooja’.
People believe that it is very important for everyone to perform all the rituals correctly; else Goddess Lakshmi wouldn’t be coming to their respective houses and indeed there would not be any prosperity.
The Hindu community celebrates Dhanteras festival very religiously.
What is the story behind celebration of Dhanteras?
While the preparations of Diwali celebrations are on their full swing, Dhanteras adds on a new dimension to it.
There is a very interesting story that backs this Hindu festival.
The son of King Hema was intended to die on the fourth day of his marriage. The king and queen wanted their son to enjoy all goodness of life and therefore they got him married.
The fourth day of his marriage was the disgraceful day.
On the fourth day, his wife did not let him sleep and placed lots of gold & silver coins around him and the gate was blocked with these coins.
Moreover big lamps were lightened all around the palace. She kept telling her husband various stories and sung songs so as to keep him awakened. As Yama, the God of death came, in the guise of a serpent; he could not enter the room of the Prince as his eyes were stupefied by the flash of gold and silver. Leaving the coins aside, he then got lost in the songs sung by the princess and the way the entire palace was decorated.
The next morning Yama had to turn back to his world. In this way the girl saved her husband’s life.
Because of the above told story, this day is also called ‘Yamadeepdaan’. Lamps are kept burning throughout the night in the honor of Yama.
Another amazing legendary story associated with Dhanteras is that of ‘Samudra Manthan’.
When Lord Indra along with a team of demons churned the sea to nullify the curse of Sage Durvasa, Goddess Lakshmi emerged from the sea with ‘Necter’ (Amrit).
Dhanteras is celebrated with a lot of enthusiasm which makes bonds of love and relationships stronger.
Along with the Lakshmi Pooja, children add fun to the day by bursting colourful crackers and rockets.
Dhanteras is a very fortunate day and people start all the new activities on this day.
People love celebrating Diwali & Dhanteras and Dhanteras creates a cheerful and positive atmosphere all over the country.
Dhanteras
Five-days-long Diwali celebration begins with Dhanteras that marks the first day of this festival.
In other words Dhanteras is also called Dhanwantari Triodasi or Dhantrayodashi, which falls on the felicitous thirteenth lunar day of Karik month’s Krishna Paksha (generally October/November).
On this day people worship Goddess Laxmi for prosperity and wellbeing. Henceforth, this day holds greater significance in corporate community in India.
When is Dhanteras ?
Dhanteras, the day to worship Goddess Lakshmi to seek her blessings, will be celebrated on Saturday, 22th October .
Legends associated with Dhanteras
A very old yet interesting fable ascribes the event as follows- once 16 year old son of the King Hima was bitten by a snake on the very fourth-day of his marriage according to his horoscope.
When the fourth day of his marriage arrived, his wife didn’t let him fall asleep. She laid every piece of jewelry and a heap of gold as well as silver coins at the doorway and put on innumerable lamps all around the place. And, she continued telling stores & singling songs.
When Yama (the God of Death as per Hindu Mythology) arrived there taking the form of the snake, his eyes got blinded with the dazzling lights of lamps and heap of coins.
He couldn’t invade the prince by entering his chamber.
Therefore, he mounted on the heap of the coins & jewelries and sat over there the whole night listening to the songs.
In the dawn he went away without making a noise.
Hence, the young wife saved her husband from grip of death.
Since then, this day became famous as the day of “Yamadeepdaan” and people keep lamps burning the whole night so as to pay reverence to the God of Death- Yama.
According to another famous fable, when suras and asuras (Gods and Demons) churned the ocean for nectar or the Amrit, dhanavantri (the physician of the Gods & the avatar of Vishnu) emerged out of the ocean carrying a jar of elixir right on the day of Dhanteras.
Preparations for Dhan-Teras To mark the fortuitous day, houses and offices are refurbished and beautified. With stunning traditional motifs and rangoli, entrances of homes and office premises are made colorful so as to welcome the Goddess of wealth and prosperity- Lakshmi.
Even to signify her long-awaited arrival, tiny footprints are made with vermilion and rice flour and Dhanteras gifts are bought liker new utensils or silver-gold coins and jewelries. Lamps are kept illuminating all through the night to bring prosperity.
Traditions of Dhanteras
On this day it is believed that buying gold or silver articles bring prosperity and prove to be auspicious.
Also people buy new utensils and stuffs. Buying new stuffs made of precious metals is said to be a sign of good luck.
By evening people perform “Lakhsmi Puja” and light earthen lamps or diyas to ward off evil spirits.
Dhanteras Puja Vidhi
- The Dhanteras Puja is performed in the evening after seeing the stars.
A clean wooden platform or a Chowki is required on which a Swastik is made using kumkum or Rangoli as it is a symbol of good luck, good health, and prosperity. - Take an earthen or flour dough diya and put four cotton wicks in it.
Keep this diya on the Swastik and pour ghee or oil in it. - Put a cowry shell with a hole in it. Lit the diya and offer your prayers to the Lord Yamraj as well as to the deceased ancestors of the family.
- For the Dhanvantari Puja, recite the Dhanvantri mantra ‘ Aum dhan dhanvatarey namah’ for 108 times.
- Immediately after Dhanvantari Puja, Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi are worshipped and offered flowers and sweets. Incense sticks are also lit.
- After the Ganesh-Lakshmi Puja, the holy water of Ganga in the Panchpatra or copper vessel is sprinkled around the diya for a minimum of three times. Roli and rice are applied on the diya and four sweets are offered to every lit cotton wick of the diya.
A one rupee coin is also put in the diya. - Offer flowers to the diya and light incense sticks.
The women of the house circumnavigate the diya for four times, kneel down, and perform Pranam to the diya to pray to the Gods. - The unmarried or the eldest woman of the family applies tilak on everyone’s foreheads.
The male members take the diya and place it on the right-hand side of the entrance of the house.
The direction of the Dhanteras diya should be South-West. - Buying silver and gold utensils and keeping them near the place of the Puja plays a crucial role in welcoming wealth and prosperity in homes.
- Illuminate the entrance of the homes with more lamps and diyas to welcome Goddess Lakshmi in homes.
Celebrations
The Dhanteras celebration is enjoyed with gusto and enthusiasm.
In the evening with Lakshmi Puja people wish for prosperity and wellbeing.
Lamps are lighted to do away with evil spirits.
Bhajans and devotional songs are sung by people to praise the powers of Goddess Lakshmi and Naivedya is offered to adulate her.
In Maharashtra there is an odd custom in which people offer lightly pound dry coriander seeds with jaggery as naivedya to Goddess Lakshmi.
In villages people deck up their cattle and worship them as they are live-stocks for farmers.
In southernmost part of India, cows are given special venetration as they are said to be the incarnation of Goddess Laxmi.
Dhanteras – A Festival to mark the Prologue to Diwali
Dhanteras festival also known as ‘Dhantrayodashi’ or ‘Dhanvantari Triodasi’ is one of the most momentous festivals of India.
On this festival Goddess Laxmi is worshiped to bestow her devotees with good fortune and success in life.
On the special event of Dhanteras, articles made of Gold or Silver or even a new utensil are purchased as a sign of good luck.
The auspicious occasion of Dhanteras holds an important place in Business community of India and celebrated with utmost divinity and enthusiasm.
As the festival of Dhanteras is observed two days before Diwali, it also marks the beginning of grand festivity.
When is Festival Celebrated?
Dhanteras festival has got its name from two words ‘Dhan’ meaning wealth and ‘Teras’ that means thirteenth.
Dhanteras or Dhantrayodashi comes every year in the thirteenth lunar day of Krishna Paksha in the Hindu month of Ashwin (October/November).
Typically, this festival is celebrated two days prior to Diwali.
How is it Celebrated?
On this day, homes and offices or the places of business are renovated and decorated.
Entrances are made colourful with beautiful traditional designs of Rangoli to welcome the Goddess of wealth and prosperity.
As a symbol of the arrival of Goddess Laxmi small footprints are drawn with rice flour and vermilion powder all over the houses.
Small diyas of clay are lighted through the night to keep the evil spirits away.
Seated Ganesha-Lakshmi Temple
The festival of Dhanteras is considered to be auspicious for purchase of gold, silver and any other new article.
On this day devotees buy new jewellery, car, even homes and dates for marriages are also fixed.
In the evening “Lakshmi-Puja” is performed singing “Bhajans”-devotional songs- in praise of Goddess Laxmi and “Naivedya” made of traditional sweets is offered to the Goddess.
In villages cattles are considered sacred and incarnation of Laxmi therefore on this day Cows are adorned and worshiped with great devotion.
Legends that took the shape of Dhanteras
Legend of King Hima and Yamraj
The son of King Hima was doomed to die on the fourth day of his marriage by snakebite.
On that particular fourth day of his marriage his young wife did not allow him to sleep.
She laid all the ornaments and lots of gold and silver coins in a big heap at the entrance and lighted lots of lamps all over the place and she went on telling stories and singing songs. When Yamraj, the God of death arrived there in the guise of a serpent, the dazzle of those brilliant lights made his eyes blind and he could not enter the prince’s chamber.
Since then this day of Dhanteras came to be known as the day of “Yamadeepdaan” and people buy some item of jewellery and keep a lamp lit nearby all night.
Dhanalakshmi Seated on a Lotus Wall Hanging with Frame
The legend of Samudramanthan (Sea Churning) is at the heart of these celebrations.
According to this story, when the gods and demons churned the ocean for Amrut or nectar, Dhanavantri, the physician of the gods and an incarnation of Vishnu emerged carrying a jar of the elixir (Amrit)
The festival of Dhanteras is also known by the names of Dhantrayodashi and Dhanvantari Trayodashi (Dhanwantari Trayodashi).
It is the festival that marks the beginning of the diwali celebrations and therefore it is considered the first day of five days long festivities of diwali.
The term ‘dhanteras’ consists of two factors ‘dhan’, which literally means wealth and ‘teras’, which means thirteenth.
Here thirteenth is meant to indicate the day ‘Trayodashi’, on which dhanteras falls.
Dhanvantari Trayodashi (Dhanwantari Trayodashi) is celebrated on the thirteenth lunar day of Krishna Paksha, of the Hindu month of Kartik, that is two days before diwali.
The Legend of Lord Dhanvantari
Legends have it that Lord Dhanvantari who is the physician of the Gods and an incarnation of Lord Vishnu came out of the ocean that was churned by the Gods and the demons on the day of dhanteras.
Lord Dhanvantari appeared with Ayurvedic for the welfare of the mankind.
Another interesting story famous about dhanteras is related to the son of King Hima and his intelligent wife.
It was predicted about him that he would die on the fourth day of his marriage.
And the reason behind his death would be snakebite.
When his wife came to know about such a prediction, she decided not to let her husband die and for this she made a plan.
On the fourth day of their marriage, she collected all the jewellery and wealth at the entrance of her husband’s boudoir and lighted lamps all around the place.
And she started telling stories and singing songs one after another in order to not let her husband sleep.
In the mid night Lord Yama, the God of death arrived there in guise of a snake. The bright lights of the lamps lit by the wife of the king’s son blinded His eyes and he could not enter their chamber.
Therefore, Lord Yama found a place to make himself comfortable on top of the heap of the jewellery and wealth and kept sitting there for the whole night waiting to get a chance to bite the king’s son.
But as the wife of the king’s son kept telling stories and singing songs for the whole night therefore, he could not get any chance and in the morning, he left the place quietly.
Thus, the wife saved her husband’s life from the cruel clutches of death.
Dhanalakshmi
Since then, the day of dhanteras is also known as the day of ‘Yamadeepdaan’ and it has become a tradition to light a diya on dhanteras and to keep it burning throughout the night in reverential adoration of Lord Yama, the God of death.
Celebrations surrounding Dhanteras
The people worship Lord Yamaraj, the God of death, on this day and light a ‘Yama-Diya’ in the night to offer prayers to Him to bless them with prosperity, wellbeing and protection.
The people purchase a new utensil, silver or gold coin or some other precious metal as a sign of good luck on the day of dhanteras.
This is also a tradition related with celebrations of the festival of Dhanvantari Trayodashi.
he day of dhanteras has great importance for the mercantile community of Western India.
There is a peculiar custom in Maharashtra to lightly pound dry coriander seeds with jaggery and offer as Naivedya.
In the rural areas the cultivators worship their cattle because they form the main source of their income and livelihood.
Besides, Dhanteras is also marked as a day to worship Dhanvantrari, the pioneer of Ayurveda.
Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy decided to observe Dhanteras as the National Ayurveda Day.
10 Lines on Dhanteras
Dhanteras is a festival which is celebrated every year by the Hindus.
It is the first-day celebration out of five days of the great festival of Diwali.
As it falls on the thirteenth day of the Ashwin month it is called ‘Dhanatrayodashi’.
On Dhanteras, purchasing commodities made up of metals like copper, steel, gold, and silver is considered auspicious.
10 Lines on Dhanteras
1) Dhanteras is regarded as the first day which marks the start of the Diwali festival all over India.
2) Dhanteras is the first day out of five days of the long celebration of the Diwali festival.
3) The festival is celebrated especially in the month of October/November.
4) According to Hindu mythology, varieties of customs are followed by Hindus on Dhanteras.
5) On the occasion of Dhanteras, Goddess Lakshmi is worshiped who is considered as the main deity of the festival.
6) Another deity who is worshiped on Dhanteras is Lord Dhanvantari, who is considered the God of Medicine.
7) It is believed that on Dhanteras, Lord Dhanvantri came out of ‘Samudra Manthan’ holding ‘Amrit Kalash’.
8) On Dhanteras, it is auspicious to buy silver, gold, steel and copper utensils, etc.
9) On the eve of the festival, people perform Lakshmi puja in their homes for seeking prosperity and peace.
10) The festival of Dhanteras brings positivity, prosperity, and good luck in everyone’s life.
We have provided another set of ten lines on Dhanteras.
After going through these lines, you will know that how Dhanteras is important, at what time period Dhanteras is celebrated, what are the other names of Dhanteras, what Dhanteras gives to us, who is worshipped on Dhanteras, what activities are done in Dhanteras, what AYUSH department has declared, etc.
You can use these lines in your speeches and extempore in the school competitions.
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10 Lines on Dhanteras
1) Dhanteras is one of the festivals which is widely celebrated by Hindus all over India which starts the five days long celebration of the Diwali festival.
2) As per the Hindu calendar, Dhanteras falls on the 13th day in the Krishna paksha of the Ashwin month and in October/November as per the Gregorian calendar.
3) Dhanteras is also known as ‘Dhanatrayodashi’ or sometimes ‘Dhanvantari Trayodashi’, ‘Yama Deep’ or ‘Dhanvantari Jayanti Puja’ etc.
4) Dhanteras festival plays a great role in everybody’s life as it brings lots of happiness, wealth, prosperity, and good luck for all.
5) The festival of Dhanteras is celebrated by worshipping Goddess Lakshmi who is believed as the god of wealth and prosperity.
6) Dhanteras is also celebrated as the birth of Lord Dhanvantari, the god of medicine, who appeared in the world holding ‘Amrit Kalash’, a nectar pot.
7) On Dhanteras, people buy utensils and ornaments as it is believed to bring fortune and good luck.
8) Lakshmi Puja is carried out on this day during the evening and people lit up diyas, worship the deity by singing aarti, bhajans and chant slokas and mantras.
9) People in villages decorate their cattle and worship them as they are the source of prosperity, livelihood, and good luck.
10) AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy) department decided to observe Dhanteras as ‘National Ayurveda Day’.
We have prepared the 3rd set of 10 lines on the Dhanteras.
The set is meant to provide you all relevant information on the topic like why and when this festival is celebrated and what the best way is to celebrate it. The set contains some important information that will make your confidence on the topic.
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10 Lines on Dhanteras
1) Dhanteras is a Hindu festival celebrated grandly in India by the Hindu community.
2) Dhanteras is celebrated on the 13th day of the Krishna Paksha of Karthik month as per the Hindu calendar.
3) According to the Gregorian calendar, it falls in the months of October-November.
4) There are many stories that believed in different parts of India regarding why Dhanteras is celebrated.
5) Goddess Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth, is worshipped on Dhanteras.
6) Assuming that the Goddess Lakshmi will come into their home on Dhanteras, people clean their houses well before the day.
7) Buying the jewellery of Gold, Silver, and also buying some utensils on this day is a part of the ritual.
8) It is said that buying precious metals on this day will make you more prosperous in the future.
9) In the evening, the people gather at a place in the house and collectively worship Goddess Lakshmi.
10) Later people distribute sweets and celebrate with each other.
Another set of 10 lines on Dhanteras is prepared here for you to make you available with all the related important facts on the topic.
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10 Lines on Dhanteras
1) Dhanteras is also famous as Dhantrayodashi or Dhanvantari Trayodashi.
2) Dhanteras is the day from when the celebration of Deepawali begins.
3) Dhanteras is dedicated to Dhanwantari, the father of Ayurveda.
4) Buying utensils and jewellery on Dhanteras is mandatory for everyone.
5) People in villages and towns decorate their houses with beautiful oil lamps.
6) Also the houses are decorated with beautiful and colorful Rangoli which is dear to Goddess Lakshmi.
7) Wearing new dresses and singing songs for God and Goddess is something practiced in almost every house.
8) Dhanteras is a festival of wealth and prosperity and we worship God to bring us good luck.
9) Dhanteras is a festival of brotherhood so we should celebrate it by forgetting our enmity.
10) On the Dhanteras, before cleaning your houses, remember to keep your surroundings also neat and clean.
Dhanteras festival in India is known for its grand festivity.
The markets on Dhanteras are highly decorated with utensils and lightings.
On this day, the business community halts the auditing and transactions of money and resumes their business and money transactions after Diwali.
On Dhanteras, everybody wishes for their prosperous and healthy life without any hassle.
People also perform various rituals on this day to seek the blessings of their deity and hoping for prosperity, wealth, and peace.
Dhanteras
Dhanteras or Dhantrayodashi is an auspicious festival that celebrates prosperity and wealth.
This festival marks the beginning of the Diwali festival.
The term Dhanteras is also called Dhanvantari Trayodashi with “Dhana” meaning wealth or money and “Teras” meaning thirteen, as it is celebrated on the thirteenth day of the Kartik month according to the Hindu calendar. Dhanteras will be celebrated on 10th November .
Check the Dhanteras date, Puja muhurat, significance, history, celebrations, rituals, popular places, traditions, wishes and What to Buy.
What is Dhanteras?
Dhanteras is celebrated on the first day of the five-day-long festival of Diwali. This day is celebrated as the day for prosperity. According to the traditions, Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Kuber are worshipped with Dhanteras mantra for wealth and prosperity.
When is Dhanteras
Dhanteras date is 10 November . According to the Hindu calendar, it falls on the thirteenth day of the month of Kartika.
History of Dhanteras
There are many legends related to the festival of Dhanteras Puja.
Some of the popular stories are:
Story of Dhanvantari
Lord Dhanvantari is considered to be the Father of Ayurveda.
He is the divine physician and the god of health and medicine.
Lord Dhanvantari first appeared during the great Samundra Manthan (churning of the ocean) carrying the elixir of life.
All the gods distributed the elixir among themselves provided by the Lord Dhanvantari.
Story of Goddess Lakshmi
According to the legends, Goddess Lakshmi once insisted on accompanying Lord Vishnu on one of his visits to the earth.
Lord Vishnu agreed but on the condition that she would not be smitten by earthly temptations and would not look in the south direction.
Goddess Lakshmi agreed to this condition of Lord Vishnu.
However, during their visit to the earth, Goddess Lakshmi got tempted to look in the south direction.
When she was not able to resist her urge she started moving in the southern direction, where she was mesmerized by the beauty of the earth. When Lord Vishnu saw that Goddess Lakshmi had broken her pledge, he got annoyed and asked her to serve a poor farmer in his field for twelve years.
The poor farmer became prosperous and wealthy overnight with the arrival of Goddess Lakshmi.
When twelve years passed, Lord Vishnu came to the earth as an ordinary man to take Goddess Lakshmi back, the farmer refused to relieve Goddess Lakshmi from his services.
When all attempts by Lord Vishnu failed, Goddess Lakshmi revealed her true identity to the farmer and told him that she could not stay any longer on the earth and needed to go back to heaven.
Goddess Lakshmi promised the farmer that she would visit him every year during the night of Trayodashi before Diwali.
The farmer started preparing every year to welcome Goddess Lakshmi on Triyodashi before Diwali.
The farmer gradually becomes more prosperous and wealthy year by year.
Story of Yama
According to the legends, there was a young King named Hima.
According to his horoscope, on the fourth day of his marriage, he was destined to die from a snake bite.
His wife kept King Hima awake on the fourth night of the marriage and didn’t allow him to rest.
She put the bunches of gold and silver coins in a pile in the passage of her bedroom and lit endless lights everywhere.
She started reciting stories and singing tunes.
When the god of death, Yamaraj, came in the form of a serpent, his eyes were blinded by the light’s brightness and was not able to enter the King’s chamber.
So, he got over the mountain of coins and sat listening to the sweet melodies the entire night.
As the night gave way to dawn, Lord Yama had no choice but to leave and King Hima’s life was saved by his devoted wife.
From that point forward, this day of Dhanteras became known as the day of “YAMADEEPDAAN”, and lights continued lit for the duration of the night.
Why does Dhanteras come near Diwali and Bhai Dooj?
Dhanteras is celebrated in the month of Kartika according to the Hindu calendar.
As per the legends, Goddess Lakshmi visits the earth in the month of Kartika, so Dhanteras is celebrated during that month for wealth and prosperity.
Diwali and Bhai Dooj are also celebrated in the month of Kartika due to the same reasons as Dhanteras.
Significance of Dhanteras
Dhanteras is a festival of prosperity and wealth.
On this day, devotees seek the blessings of Lord Dhanvantri (Father of Ayurveda) and Goddess Lakshmi (symbol of prosperity and wealth) for a healthy and happy life.
People clean their houses on this day as it is believed that Goddess Lakshmi enters only a clean house.
People worship the Goddess Lakshmi, Lord Kuber, and Lord Dhanvantri on this day, to bring good wealth, health, and happiness.
Celebrations of Dhanteras
Dhanteras is celebrated on the first day of the five-day-long festival of Diwali.
People believe it brings good luck and wealth to them.
On this day, people worship Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Kuber according to the Dhanteras Puja Vidhi and wish for a wealthy life.
The celebrations include making Dhanteras rangoli, wearing new clothes and greeting each other with Happy Dhanteras.
Dhanteras Traditions and Rituals
Dhanteras meaning is to bring prosperity and wealth into life, people celebrate this festival with great joy.
Some of the famous traditions and rituals are:
• Worshipping Lord Kuber, Goddess Lakshmi and Gaumata (cows) is considered very sacred if it is completed according to the Dhanteras Puja time.
• People worship their place of work, shops and farmers worship their cattle.
• People lit a diya called ‘Yamadeep’ in the evening for the god of death, Yamaraj.
• Cleaning houses, making Dhanteras rangolis, and wearing new clothes are some of the common traditions of the festival.
What to buy on Dhanteras ?
Dhanteras is the festival of purchasing new things. Some of the things that are considered to be auspicious are:
• Dhanteras is considered to be extremely auspicious for purchasing gold and silver.
The purchase of utensils made of copper, steel, and brass is also valued on this day.
• Purchasing new electronic items like laptops, phones, televisions, refrigerators, etc.
is also considered lucky on this day.
• People also purchase broom on Dhanteras as it symbolize Goddess Lakshmi.
Popular Places to Purchase Gold and Silver on Dhanteras
- Ahmedabad: Ahmedabad has many options to offer when it comes to gold shopping.
You can find many varieties like lightweight jewellery, diamond showrooms, and ethnic gold collections.
• Places to Stay: Hotels in Ahmedabad - Mumbai: Mumbai has its own jewellery spot, Zaveri Bazaar.
The place also has big stores by some of the biggest jewellery brands in India.
• Places to Stay: Hotels in Mumbai - Delhi: Old Delhi is famous for the gold and silver markets with unique designs and varieties.
There are many branded and local stores which offer something for everyone.
People rush into the markets on the day of Dhanteras to buy traditional jewellery.
• Places to Stay: Hotels in Delhi
Dhanteras Wishes
People wear new clothes and greet each other with Dhanteras wishes. Some of the famous Dhanteras greetings are:
• May the Goddess Lakshmi bless your business to do well despite all odds like the enduring charms of gold and diamonds.
Happy Dhanteras!
• On the auspicious day of Dhanteras Puja, Hindus follow the tradition of purchasing precious metals gold, platinum or silver, in the form of jewellery coins or utensils, for good luck. Happy Dhanteras .
• May the Dhanteras Celebrations endow you with opulence and prosperity. May happiness come in your steps easily. Wishing you many bright futures in your life. Shubh Dhanteras!
• May this Dhanteras Light up new dreams, fresh hopes, undiscovered avenues, and different perspectives, everything bright & beautiful and fill your days with pleasant surprises and moments. Happy Dhanteras to you and your family.
• May your life remain colourful like a Dhanteras rangoli.
• On this auspicious Dhanteras festival, may your life: shimmer with silver; shine with gold, and dazzle like platinum! Happy Dhanteras !
• May the blessings of Maa Laxmi be always there for you and your loved ones….. May the festival of Dhanteras bring prosperity to your life.
• On this auspicious occasion of Dhanteras, may there be an abundant shower of wealth in your life and may the light of success cover your life beautifully? Happy Dhanteras!
Dhanteras is derived from two words: Dhan, which means wealth, and Teras, which means the thirteenth day.
Therefore, Dhanteras falls on the thirteenth day of the Krishna Paksha (waning phase of the moon) in the Hindu month of Ashwin.
As per the Gregorian calendar, the time of Dhanteras usually falls in October or November.
Many households all over India worship Goddess Lakshmi, the deity of wealth, on this day to seek her blessings for financial prosperity.
History of Dhanteras
Several stories revolve around the history of Dhanteras. To understand the significance of Dhanteras, we must dig deep into Hindu mythology.
So the story goes, during Samudra Manthan, Dhanvantri, the lord of Ayurveda emerged with the holy book of Ayurveda to bless people on Earth. On this day, he brought along the elixir of immortality known as “Amrita.”
According to Skanda Purana, the churning of the sea was the source of the birth of Lord Dhanvantri.
Another story goes by the emergence of Goddess Laxmi from Samudra Manthan.
She emerged from the sea with a vessel filled with gold. Gold symbolizes wealth, happiness, prosperity, and happiness. To welcome Goddess Laxmi, many households in India decorate the entrance of their homes with diya and rangoli on Dhanteras.
Another popular story associated with Goddess Laxmi goes as follows: Lord Vishnu went to visit the earth with Goddess Laxmi, but on one condition, Goddess Laxmi can only look in the southern direction.
Even after promising to stick to her pledge, she failed to stick to it and craved sugarcane juice. Annoyed by her actions, Lord Vishnu commanded her to serve a poor farmer for 12 years. With Goddess Laxmi’s arrival into his family, the farmer prospered in farming and welcomed wealth.
As 12 years were over and her time to leave the Earth arrived, the farmer refused to let her go.
Goddess Laxmi finally revealed her true identity to him and promised to visit him on every Dhanteras.
To welcome Maa Laxmi, the farmer started to keep his home clean and lit diya on Dhanteras.
Hindu mythology is so mysterious and so many stories are associated with Dhanteras that it’s fascinating even to the most atheists.
The third story related to Dhanteras is one of the most incredible stories ever told in any mythology. It is about King Hima’s son.
It’s believed that his horoscope predicted his death 3 days after his marriage from a snake bite. To perplex the snake, his wife piled up all her jewellery and coins with diyas lighted on them near the front door.
When the dead God Yamraj came in the shape of a snake, the brightness in front of the door deceived him from finding the way to King Hima’s son. Waiting all night near the door, Yama left the next morning without him.
On Dhanteras, the 13 days Indians lit in their homes, they are dedicated to Lord Kuber, the god of wealth and properties.
Significance of Dhanteras
Dhanteras, the day stands for a combination of Dhan (wealth) and Teras (thirteenth).
It is the day when acquiring new assets, jewelry made of gold, and silver, and utensils, are believed to usher prosperity into one’s home.
The day is dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi, the bestower of wealth and good fortune.
Devotees illuminate their homes with oil diyas, and candles, to welcome the deity.
It’s a festival to open doors for health, wealth, success, happiness, and well-being in your life.
The tale of Dhanvantari’s emergence during the churning of the ocean represents the importance of good health.
As Maa Laxmi only goes in clean, well-maintained homes, homeowners clean and decorate the houses symbolizing the cleansing of both one’s physical and spiritual self. It is also a day to get Dhanteras gifts for your family and friends.
Different Days of Dhanteras
Dhanteras is not just a one-day celebration but it’s the beginning of a five-day long festival. The second day, also known as Choti Diwali or Naraka Chaturdashi, is dedicated to Lord Krishna’s victory over the demon Narakasura. The day of Laxmi Pujan is known as Badi Diwali.
What is Dhanteras?
Dhanteras is the first day of the festival of Diwali, a Hindu festival marking the return of Lord Rama from his fourteen-year exile and vanquishing the demon-king, Ravana. It’s also observed by Jains, Sikhs, and some Buddhists, in India and beyond.
Dhanteras celebrates Lord Dhanvantari, who is believed to have emerged from the sea holding a pot of nectar in one hand and sacred texts in the other.
For many, it is a time of preparation for the upcoming Diwali celebrations.
When is Dhanteras?
Dhanteras takes place on the thirteenth day of Krishna Paksha in the Hindu calendar month of Ashvini. This usually falls in late October or early November.
In 2024, Dhanteras will be on the 23rd of October.
Why is Dhanteras celebrated?
For many, Dhanteras is one of the most important events of the year, and it’s celebrated in a number of ways.
Many use it as a time to prepare their home for Diwali. This usually involves lots of cleaning.
In the evening, all the family gathers to present various offerings to Lord Dhanvantari.
The house’s main entrance is decorated with colourful lights and candles. These candles are kept burning throughout the night.
Using flour, little footprints are made near the house’s entrance to symbolise Goddess Lakshmi’s coming.
What to buy on Dhanteras?
Dhanteras is considered a lucky time of the year to buy gold or silver, so many people go out to make new purchases.
Of course, not everyone can afford to buy gold or silver every year, which means that a lot of people buy kitchenware instead.
Cars and other automobiles are also popular purchases on Dhanteras.
Twinkl resources to celebrate Dhanteras
Here at Twinkl HQ, we’ve been busy making loads of resources to help you and yours celebrate Dhanteras. If you’re in a hurry, then here are a few of our favourites:
- This colourful Dhanteras Photo Pack contains images of all the main Dhanteras-related talking points. It would be a great way to decorate your classroom.
- If you’d like to help your class or child with their fine motor skills, then look no further than these Dhanteras Colouring Pages. All designs are drawn by our talented team of illustrators.
- For those of you who are holding a Dhanteras party, you can use these Dhanteras Invitation Cards to let everyone know about your event.
- Similarly, if you’d like to send your best wishes to a friend or family member, then you’ll want to check out this Dhanteras Greeting Card.
And just in case you’re already looking ahead to Diwali, here are a few activities for your lessons:
Why is Dhanteras Celebrated?
Dhanteras is a celebration of spiritual victory and the Diwali festivities, spanning over five days.
On this day, devotees worship Goddess Lakshmi, Lord Kubera and Lord Dhanvantari, the God of Ayurveda and health, seeking blessings for wealth, prosperity and well-being.
According to Hindu mythology, it is believed that those who offer prayers to Lord Dhanvantari on this festival get relieved from all types of diseases and sufferings.
As per popular legend, on the day of Dhanteras, Goddess Durga and Lord Kubera emerged from the ocean during the “Sagar Manthan,” which is why the two are worshipped on the auspicious day of Trayodashi. When the Devas and Asuras were travelling over the sea with “Amrit,” Lord Dhanvantari emerged last during “Sagar Manthan.”
List of items people shouldn’t buy on the occasion:
- Since Dhanteras is an auspicious day, buying sharp objects like scissors, knives, and pins is believed to bring bad luck to the family.
- Astrologers say that people should avoid buying items made of iron as well. It is believed that the god of wealth, Lord Kuber, doesn’t shower his blessings upon those who purchase iron products on this day.
- Shoppers should stay away from aluminium and plastic products during Dhanteras as well. Instead, it is better to buy articles made of metal.
- Astrologers say one shouldn’t buy anything in black as they associate it with bad luck.
- Glassware or items made of glass are also considered inauspicious.
- There is a customary practice of not buying oil and ghee on this day. But since oil is one of the major items required during the festival, astrologers suggest people stock up before the day arrives.
Notably, this year, the Dhanteras puja muhurat is scheduled to last from 5:47 pm to 7:43 pm, or almost two hours.
Why is Dhanteras celebrated?
Dhanteras is the birth anniversary of Lord Dhanvantari who, Hindus believe, gave the knowledge of Ayurveda, a natural system of medicine, to mankind.
Lord Dhanvantari in Hinduism is therefore regarded as the god of health.
They worship him in the evening typically to get rid of ailments.
The origin of Dhanteras also is linked to the legend of the prediction of King Hima’s 16-year-old son who would die of a snake bite on the fourth day of his marriage.
However, after the son’s wife heard about this, he placed a pile of ornaments at her room’s entrance and told stories to her husband throughout the night to keep him awake.
When the time came around for Lord Yama to transform into a snake to bite King Hima’s son, he was instead dazzled by the jewellery and sat on the pile of ornaments to listen to the stories.
This is how the legend of good luck and shiny ornaments derives from the Dhanteras festival.
It was through this, that the new bride distracted Lord Yama and he missed the time set for killing the prince, the story goes.
People also light up their homes at night during Dhanteras.
This derives from the belief that Goddess Lakshimi visits their homes during the night.
Stories Behind Dhanteras
Let us have a look at some stories behind Dhanteras celebration.
Story of King Hima –
The story of Dhanteras goes back to an ancient legend where the son of King Hima was predicted to die due to snakebite on his sixteenth birthday, according to his horoscope.
In order to protect the prince, his newlywed wife did not let him sleep, and placed all her ornaments in a heap at the entrance of the sleeping chamber.
She placed all available treasuries of gold and silver coins too along with those jewelleries.
She lighted up the entire place with lamps so that every nook and corner was visible and there was no darkness anywhere.
She then began to sing songs and recite poems in order to keep her husband from falling asleep. She feared that he may die if he falls asleep.
The god of Death, Lord Yama arrived in the guise of a serpent as predicted by the prince’s horoscope.
But his eyes got blinded by the radiance of the numerous lamps and the brilliance of the jewels and gold. Yama failed to enter the chamber and he climbed atop the heap of ornaments and coins and began to listen to the songs and recitations of the prince’s wife.
The night was spent in this manner and it dawned, the serpent had no other option but to leave, as according to the horoscope, the serpent was to bite the prince on that very night only.
Since then the day has been celebrated whereby the young prince was saved due to the love and intelligence of his wife.
Story of Goddess Parvati –
Yet another legend has it that Goddess Parvati, the wife of Lord Shiva played dice with her husband on this day and won.
And so, it is also a custom followed by some Hindus, where businessmen play dice or gamble so that wealth and prosperity is ensured for the entire year.
How Dhanteras is Observed:
The day is also observed as Yamadeepdaan, as the lady of the house lights earthen Deeps or lamps throughout the night so as to appease Lord Yama, and ensure that their husbands and household is protected from all deaths and obstacles.
It is a custom to buy jewellery of gold or silver on the night of Dhanteras and people from all walks of life make it a point that they invest a little of their money or savings so that they can buy at least a bit of gold or silver on this auspicious occasion.
They also opt for buying a new utensil if there is any problem in buying gold or silver.
Puja is performed on the site where the wealth of the house is kept, and Laxmi Puja is also performed along with that of Lord Ganesh.
Goddess Lakshmi Story
In a tale from the legends, Goddess Lakshmi wanted to join Lord Vishnu on one of his trips to Earth. Lord Vishnu agreed, but he set a condition: she couldn’t be swayed by earthly attractions and must avoid looking in the south direction. Goddess Lakshmi accepted this condition.
During their visit, Goddess Lakshmi couldn’t resist the temptation and glanced towards the south. Enchanted by the beauty of the Earth, she started moving in that direction. Seeing this, Lord Vishnu was upset and instructed her to serve a poor farmer in his field for twelve years as a consequence of breaking her promise.
The farmer’s life changed dramatically with the arrival of Goddess Lakshmi, making him prosperous and wealthy. After twelve years, when Lord Vishnu came to take Goddess Lakshmi back, the farmer, now affluent, refused to let her go.
Despite all efforts, the farmer wouldn’t release Goddess Lakshmi. Finally, she revealed her true identity and explained that she couldn’t stay on Earth any longer.
She promised to visit the farmer every year on Trayodashi night before Diwali.
From then on, the farmer eagerly prepared to welcome Goddess Lakshmi on that night, leading to his increasing prosperity and wealth each year.
Yama Story
In an ancient story, there was a young King named Hima who, according to his horoscope, was destined to die from a snake bite on the fourth night of his marriage.
To prevent this, his clever wife kept him awake that night. She placed piles of gold and silver coins with lit lamps in the passage, creating a bright atmosphere. She entertained him with stories and songs.
When the god of death, Yamaraj, arrived in the form of a serpent, the brilliance of the lights blinded his eyes, preventing him from entering the King’s chamber. Instead, he perched on the mountain of coins, listening to the sweet melodies all night.
As dawn approached, Yamaraj had no choice but to leave, and King Hima’s life was saved by his devoted wife. Since then, this day became known as “YAMADEEPDAAN,” and people continue to keep lights burning throughout the night on Dhanteras.
Dhanteras, Diwali and Bhai Dooj
Dhanteras happens close to Diwali and Bhai Dooj because they all take place in the Hindu month of Kartika. Legends say that Goddess Lakshmi comes to Earth during this month, making it an auspicious time for prosperity and wealth.
That’s why Dhanteras, Diwali, and Bhai Dooj are all celebrated in Kartika, sharing the same focus on blessings and good fortune.
Dhanteras Significance
Dhanteras is a festival that’s all about wealth and prosperity. People ask for blessings from Lord Dhanvantri, who is considered the Father of Ayurveda, and Goddess Lakshmi, who represents prosperity.
To make sure their homes are ready for these divine visitors, people clean their houses because it’s believed that Goddess Lakshmi prefers clean surroundings. On this day, folks worship Goddess Lakshmi, Lord Kuber, and Lord Dhanvantri, hoping to bring in good wealth, health, and happiness into their lives.
How to Celebrate Dhanteras
Dhanteras is all about inviting prosperity and wealth into life, and people celebrate it with much happiness. Some popular traditions and rituals include:
Sacred Worship: It’s considered highly auspicious to worship Lord Kuber, Goddess Lakshmi, and Gaumata (cows) during the Dhanteras Puja time.
Business and Farming Blessings: People also worship their workplaces, shops, and farmers extend their prayers to their cattle.
Yamadeep Tradition: In the evening, a special diya called ‘Yamadeep’ is lit for the god of death, Yamaraj.
Home Preparations: Cleaning houses, creating Dhanteras rangolis, and putting on new clothes are common traditions that add to the festive spirit.
What to buy on Dhanteras?
Dhanteras is a festival where buying new things is a special tradition. Some items believed to bring good luck are:
Gold and Silver: Purchasing gold and silver is considered very lucky on Dhanteras.
Utensils: Buying utensils made of copper, steel, and brass is also seen as auspicious.
Electronics: Purchasing new electronic items like laptops, phones, TVs, and refrigerators is considered fortunate.
Broom: Surprisingly, buying a broom on Dhanteras is also common, as it symbolizes the presence of Goddess Lakshmi.
Traditions and Rituals
Dhanteras meaning is to bring prosperity and wealth into life, people celebrate this festival with great joy. Some of the famous traditions and rituals are:
- Worshipping Lord Kuber, Goddess Lakshmi and Gaumata (cows) is considered very sacred if it is completed according to the Dhanteras Puja time.
- People worship their place of work, shops and farmers worship their cattle.
- People lit a diya called ‘Yamadeep’ in the evening for the god of death, Yamaraj.
- Cleaning houses, making Dhanteras rangolis, and wearing new clothes are some of the common traditions of the festival.
How To Celebrate Dhanteras Festival?
Hindus celebrate this festival by purchasing gold or silver ornaments, and some utensils.
Lord Ganesha, Lord Kuber and Goddess Lakhsmi are worshipped on the evening of Dhanteras. Here is how to perform Dhanteras Puja Vidhi:
- Give Lord Ganesha a bath and anoint him with sandalwood paste. Red cloth and flowers are then offered to the lord. A mantra to worship Ganesha is also chanted:
वक्रतुण्ड महाकाय सूर्यकोटि समप्रभ ।
निर्विघ्नं कुरु मे देव सर्वकार्येषु सर्वदा ॥
- Offer fruits, flowers, sweets and Diya to Lord Kuber. To worship Lord Kuber, chant the following Mantra:
ओम यक्षाय कुबेराय वैश्रवणाय धनधान्यपदये
धना-धनाय समुद्भूतं मे देहि दापय स्वाहा
- On a cloth spread on a raised platform, put a Kalash filled with water and gangajal along with some betel nuts, flowers, coins and grains of rice. An idol of Maa Lakshmi should be placed on the grains of rice. Businessmen also put their books of account (Bahi Khata) near the idol of goddess Lakshmi. The goddess is offered turmeric, vermillion, flowers, and a diya. You can chant the following mantra to worship Maa Lakshmi:
ओम श्रीं ह्रीं श्रीं श्रीं कमले कमलालये प्रसीद प्रसीद ओम श्रीं ह्रीं श्रीं महालक्ष्म्यै नमः
Many people fast all day and break their fast only after doing Lakshmi puja in the evening. Performing Lakshmi Puja with all accurate Vedic rituals may be inconvenient for those who don’t have extensive knowledge of pooja processes.
In case you are unable to perform precisely, let our expert pandits help you in performing a personalised Lakshmi Puja to appease the Goddess of wealth and prosperity.
What does Dhanteras mean?
The word Dhanteras is made from two words; dhan, which means wealth, and teras, which means thirteenth.
According to legend, it was on this day that Goddess Lakshmi emerged from the ocean during Samudra Manthan. People believe that buying Gold and other precious metals on this day will bring Goddess Lakshmi into their lives.
Hence, it is not surprising that people jewelry and utensil shops are overcrowded with people on this day. Many people also buy a new broom on this day. It is a common belief that doing so will erase all their financial difficulties and worries.