The festival of Dhanteras or Dhantrayodashi gives the start to the five-day-long Diwali Festivities in India. This day is widely popular among Hindus as an auspicious day to shop for gold ornaments, new utensils, Lakshmi-Ganesha idols and other home appliances. Usually, the celebration of this festival takes place two days before Diwali in the Karthik month of the Hindu calendar. The Celebration of this festival takes place with full fervour and enthusiasm. Dhanteras is a Sanskrit word made of two words: “Dhan” which means wealth and “Teras” Means the 13th day. The devotees on this day worship Lord Ganesha, God Dhanvantari, Goddess Lakshmi and Kubera.

As per Hindu Scriptures, God Dhanvantari (God of Hindu Medicine and Incarnation of Lord Vishnu) appeared out of the sea during Samudra Manthan with a sacred book on Ayurveda in one hand and a Kalash (pot) of Amrit (Nectar of Immortality) in the other. The celebration of Dhanteras is also known by the name Dhanvantari Jayanti. Dhan literally means wealth and it deals not only with the physical wealth but also the emotional, and spiritual, including the body, mind and soul. With ageing, Health is also considered wealth without which life becomes challenging. Some devotees recite the following Mantra 108 times to praise the God Dhanvantri and to receive his blessings:

OM Namoh Bhagvatey Vasudevaya, Dhanvantraye Amritkalashaye Sarvamaya Vinashaye Trilokanathaya, Sri Mahavishnave Swaha.

Success or Happiness: Which is More Important?

To attain serenity, which is the true meaning of “Dhan” in the modern era, one must have a healthy body and mind.

Another asset that allows you to enjoy a successful life is a positive and healthy relationship with family and friends. Sometimes in our pursuit of achievement, we lose our happiness and, ultimately, our peace. Therefore, rather than only seeking material wealth, it is essential to chase the genuine “Dhan”. What we fill our minds with has a major influence on our mental health, which is also extremely important.

History of Dhanteras

As per ancient Hindu Legends, there is an interesting story behind this auspicious festival. The story starts with a king named Hima whose son was doomed to die on the fourth day of his marriage by a snake bite. But Hima’s daughter-in-law stands as a wall between her husband’s life and Lord Yama (God of Death). On that particular day, she did not allow her husband to sleep. She lit many lamps at the entrance of the room along with a lot of gold jewellery and many silver coins. She narrated various stories and sang devotional songs and mantras to keep her husband from falling asleep.

When the God of death came to take her husband’s life at her doorstep in the guise of a serpent, he was dazzled and blinded by the strong light coming from the glittering jewellery along with the lamps. Lord Yama couldn’t enter the prince’s chamber, so he sat outside listening to the stories and mantras. In the morning, he left the place without hurting the young prince and with his wife’s brilliance and devotion the young prince got a new life. Since then people celebrate this auspicious festival as Dhanteras.

Things to Avoid on Dhanteras

There are certain activities as per Hindu scriptures to avoid during this day. Some of them are mentioned below:

• Do not borrow/lend money – As per some popular belief, people should not lend/borrow money on this day. This activity may upset Goddess Lakshmi and she may leave your house and go to some other place.
• Keep the home’s main entryway tidy and spotless. Do not keep footwear at the main door of your home. It may upset the Goddess Lakshmi entering your house and she may turn her divine feet in another direction.
• Avoid shopping for glass items and the glass idols of Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesh.

Importance of Dhanteras

On this Hindu Festival, Devotees worship Goddess Lakshmi and God Dhanvantari to receive their blessings for a happy, healthy and wealthy life. That’s why Dhanteras is believed to be a very auspicious day by the people of India. The significance of Dhanteras is that on this day, purchasing is done on a major scale by the people. As it is believed to be a very special day to do shopping. There is a marvellous trend of buying precious metals on this day like –

• GOLD
• SILVER
• And Other Utensils for Your Kitchen

On this day, a considerable proportion of shopping is done. Everyone can be seen purchasing something on this day, from big, luxury vehicles to tiny, pricy utensils.

After completing their purchases, people relax and indulge in many bhajans that are being performed, with all reciting the bhajans loudly. When one experiences God’s grace during the bhajan, it feels fortunate.

During the festive periods of Diwali, it is customary in the Hindu religion to set the diyas in front of the door. There is a sense that Diwali is approaching because of all these auspicious events that are taking place.

Ready yourself for Dhanteras by buying everything you’ll need to make this Dhanteras special.

So enjoy your grand festivities with:

• New Utensils
• New Clothes
• New Jewelry
• Sweets for Kids
• Diyas to be placed at the front of the house
• Paint your house for inviting Goddess Laxmi to your house
• And at last, take many photos to remember your special day.

To Conclude

Dhantrayodashi or Dhanteras is one of the most awaited festivals in India. During this festival time, people like to buy precious metals and kitchenware with a belief that it may enhance their wealth and invite prosperity. As per this tradition, people clean up their homes thoroughly a few days before this festival. They make their home decorated with candles, paint, diyas, colourful flowers and a myriad of other things. In the evening, devotees worship Lord Ganesh, God Dhanvantari, Goddess Lakshmi and Kubera for a happy healthy and prosperous life. To make this festival more auspicious for you, there are various online retailers providing classic Diwali offers on your purchases. Get ready to explore an interesting shopping experience this Dhanteras.

Happy Dhanteras to All!