Importance of Dhanteras

Dhanteras or also known as the Dhatrayodashi or Dhanwantari Triodasi is the first day of the Diwali Festival and falls on the thirteenth lunar day of Krishna Paksha in the Hindu month of Ashwin.

Dhanteras Festical says if the 16-year –old son of King Hima was doomed to die by a snake-bite, on the 14th day of his marriage. On the fourth day of his marriage, his young didn’t want him to go to sleep. She put all the bits and pieces and silver coins in a big stack at the door of her husband’s boudoir and lighted innumerable lamps all over the place. So his wife told stories and sang songs.

Yama, god of Death, arrived in the appearance of a snake with his eyes got blinded by the lights and couldn’t enter the chamber. So he climbed up on the heap of ornaments and silver coins and sat the whole night listening to songs. In the daytime, he went away. The young wife saves her husband from death.

Since then, the day of Dhanteras came to be known as the Yamadeepdaan and the lamps are burning throughout the night in the deferential adoration to Yam.

According to another legend, when the gods and demons churned the ocean for Amrit(nectar), Dhanavantri, the doctor of the gods and an incarnation of Vishnu, emerged carrying a jar of elixir on the day of Dhanteras.

In celebrating this day, houses and business premises are renovated and decorated. Entrances or doors are made colorful with traditional motifs of Rangoli designs to welcome the Goddess of Wealth and Prosperity. To indicate her arrival, small footprints are drawn with rice flour and vermilion powder all over the houses. Lamps are burning all through the nights.

On Dhanteras, Hindus consider it promising to purchase gold or silver articles or at least one or two new tools. It is believed that new “Dhan” or some form of precious metal is a sign of good luck. "Laxmi-Puja" is performed in the evenings when tiny Diyas of clay are lit to drive away evil spirits. Bhajans, devotional songs in praise of Goddess Laxmi, are also sung and Naivedya, traditional sweets, is offered to the Goddess. Lightly pounding dry coriander seeds with jiggery is a custom in Maharashtra and offer as Naivedya.

In villages, cattle are adorned and worshiped by farmers as they form the main source of their income. In south India, cows are offered particularly special veneration because they are thought of as incarnations of the Goddess Lakshmi.

Dulawat family wish you all a very happy Dhanteras .May this Dhanteras shower you with wealth and prosperity as you journey towards greater success. Happy Dhanteras!

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