Dhanteras is a Hindu Festival celebrated on first day of five day long Diwali Festival.
Namaste!
Welcome to the world of engrossed readings about Sanatana Dharma at www.onindianpath.com. Today’s blog is on Dhanteras- a joyous festival for all the Hindus in India and all over the world.
Introduction
Dhanteras is a Hindi word which means dhan ki troyadashi. Dhan refers to wealth and money. And troyadashi is the thirteen day of hindu Panchanng. It is the day from which Diwali celebrations commence. Moreover it is a festival to worship god Dhanvantari. Dhanvantari is god of Ayurveda who gave the wisdom of Ayurveda to the world for the betterment of mankind and helping people to get rid of sufferings and diseases.
Additionally, people also worship Goddess Lakshmi and Kuber with the motive of improving financial status and wealth of the family.
Date of Dhanteras
As per Hindu panchang, Dhanteras or Dhanatrayodashi is celebrated on the thirteenth day of Krishna Paksha of Kartik maas. This year it will fall on 29 October 2024.
Dhanteras Puja Muhurta will start at 06:55 PM and it will end at 08:22 PM.
Significance of Dhanteras
Infact, Diwali is the biggest festival celebrated all over the world with glee and joy. Dhanteras has special mention in rituals and traditions of Diwali. Dhanteras, Dhanatrayodashi or yamdepdaan is a festival of bringing in the wealth and prosperity into homes and businesses.
Furthermore, Dhanvantari, the god of health and Ayurveda, is worshiped in the evening of Dhanteras. Besides, few people prefer worshiping their main income source, as the shopkeepers worship their place of work, and farmers worship their beautifully-adorned cattle .
Rituals & Traditions of Dhanteras
Following are the different rituals and traditions of Dhanteras:
Cleaning and Decorating Homes
In Hindu culture, its believed that Goddess Lakshmi only enters a neat and clean house. Hence, homes that have not yet been cleaned in preparation for Diwali, are thoroughly cleansed and whitewashed on Dhanteras.
Generally Hindus decorate the main entrance of their homes with colorful lanterns, lights, diyas and traditional rangoli designs. It is ritual to welcome Goddess Lakshmi. In Hinduism, Goddess Lakshmi is wife of Hindu God Shri Vishnu. She is the goddess of wealth and prosperity.
Footprints of Goddess Lakshmi
In many geographical locations of northern India, small footprints of Goddess Lakshmi are drawn at entrance. They draw it with rice flour and kumkum (vermilion powder) all over the house. It is practice to indicate her long-awaited arrival.
Lighting of Diyas
On the night of Dhanteras, diyas (lamps) are lit and kept burning all through the night with an idea to welcome Goddess Lakshmi and Dhanvantari. Eventually, people also light a diya in front of a tulsi plant to honor Shri Vishnu and goddess lakshmi.
Although many people light the doorways and entrance too with diyas. This light is an offering to Lord Yama, the god of death, to avert untimely death of family members.
Gold & Silver Buying
Apparently, Hindus consider Dhanteras as an extremely auspicious day for making new purchases, especially of gold or silver items. Also people buy new utensils, new vehicles, gadgets and new property on this day.
Particularly on Dhanteras, shopping areas and markets in India are open for longer durations and close very late in night. As contemporary times have taught people the value this most auspicious occasion for buying gold, silver, other metals, kitchenware, appliances and automobiles. Even if the budget is low, people prefer buying silver ginni (50 or 100 gm coin).
Legends of Dhanteras
So, here I am going to put light on few of the stories of Dhanteras.
Story of Lord Dhanvantri
According to Bhagwad Purana, during the Samundra Manthan (churning of) of sheer Sagar( milky ocean) by Devtas (gods) and auras (demons). Lord Dhanvantri, god of Ayurveda and Medicine emerged out of it.
Further, the ancient text describe him as a young dark skinned God, wearing yellow colour attire. And he was having black big eyes and curly hair, wearing kundala in his ears. Specifically he was a four armed person holding Vishnu Chakra in one hand, Lotus in second hand, holding Shankh in the third hand and Nectar in fourth hand.
Although, he is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Infact, there are many temples in South India devoted to him.
Thus, Dhanteras is also called Dhanvantari jayanti in many parts of the country.
Besides, it’s also believed that Lord Dhanvantri was a physician to all the Hindu gods. He was a great discerning of all the Vedas, Puranas, Vedangas and mantras.
Story of Goddess Lakshmi
As per Bhagwad Purana, Goddess Lakshmi also emerged out of Samudra Manthan. She was sitting on lotus, wearing white saree with a shiny and vibrant face.
Also, she came out with a vessel stocked with gold, symbolizing good fortune, prosperity, happiness, and wealth on Dhanteras.
Story of Lord Yamaraj
Lastly, the third story is based on King Hima’s son. Once upon a time there lived a king named Hima. Hima went to pandit to seek counselling for his son’s horoscope. His horoscope predicted that he’d die on the 4th 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 4th day of their marriage by narrating stories and keeping him awake.
She was an intelligent wife. To deceive the snake, she made a pile of all her gold and silver 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.
Hence, 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.
Conclusion
So, by far bow we know that people worship many gods on Dhanteras to bring peace and happiness to their homes. People consider Dhanteras extremely auspicious for purchasing silverware. Have a blessed read.
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