Dhanteras

Dhanteras festival also known as 'Dhantrayodashi' or 'Dhanvantari Triodasi' is one of the most significant 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 Dhanteras Festival

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). Usually this festival is celebrated two days prior to Diwali.

Celebrations of Dhanteras

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.

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 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.

The legend of Sea Churning
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).