Dhanteras marks the first day of five-days-long Diwali
Festival. Dhanteras Festival, also known as Dhantrayodashi or Dhanwantari
Triodasi, falls on the auspicious thirteenth lunar day of Krishna Paksha in the
Hindu month of Kartik (October/November). In the word Dhanteras,
"Dhan" stands for wealth. On Dhanteras Goddess Laxmi is worshiped to
provide prosperity and well being. Hence Dhan Teras holds a lot more
significance for the business community.
Dhanteras Legends:
A very interesting story about
Dhanteras Festival says that once the sixteen year old son of King Hima. was
doomed to die by a snake-bite on the fourth day of his marriage as per his
horoscope. 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 of her husband's boudoir and lighted
innumerable lamps all over the place. And she went on telling stories and
singing songs.
When Yama, the god of Death arrived
there in the guise of a Serpent his eyes got blinded by that dazzle of those
brilliant lights and he could not enter the Prince's chamber. So he climbed on
top of the heap of the ornaments and coins and sat there whole night listening
to the melodious songs. In the morning he quietly went away. Thus the young
wife saved her husband from the clutches of death. Since then this day of
Dhanteras came to be known as the day of "Yamadeepdaan" and lamps are
kept burning throughout the night in reverential adoration to Yam, the god of
Death.
According to another popular legend,
when the gods and demons churned the ocean for Amrit or nectar, Dhanavantri
(the physician of the gods and an incarnation of Vishnu) emerged carrying a jar
of the elixir on the day of Dhanteras.
Dhanteras Preparations:
To mark the auspicious day, houses
and business premises are renovated and decorated. Entrances are made colorful
with lovely traditional motifs of Rangoli designs to welcome the Goddess of
Wealth and Prosperity. To indicate her long-awaited arrival, small footprints
are drawn with rice flour and vermilion powder all over the houses. Lamps are
kept burning all through the nights.
Dhanteras Traditions:
On Dhanteras Hindus consider it
auspicious to purchase gold or silver articles or at least one or two new
utensils. 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 lighted to drive away the shadows of evil spirits.
"Bhajans"-devotional songs- in praise of Goddess Laxmi are also sung.
Dhanteras
Celebrations:
Dhanteras is celebrated with gusto
and enthusiasm. "Lakshmi-Puja" is performed in the evenings when tiny
diyas of clay are lighted to drive away the shadows of evil spirits. Bhajans ir
devotional songs- in praise of Goddess Laxmi are sung and "Naivedya"
of traditional sweets is offered to the Goddess. There is a peculiar custom in
Maharashtra to lightly pound dry coriander seeds with jaggery and offer as
Naivedya.
In villages cattle are adorned and
worshiped by farmers as they form the main source of their income. In south
cows are offered special veneration as they are supposed to be the incarnation
of Goddess Lakshmi and therefore they are adorned and worshiped on this day.