Dhanteras is a festival of wealth that is celebrated by Hindus all over the World. This festival marks the being of the five day diwali festival. This festival is celebrated in the month of Kartik of the Hindu calendar and falls on the thirteenth day of the dark fortnight.
About Dhanteras
The festival of Dhanteras is an auspicious Hindu festival that is celebrated 2 days before Diwali. There are several mythological stories associated with this festival. As per a legend, there is an interesting story associated with this festival. It is about a young 16 years old king Hima, whose horoscope predicted that he will die on the 4th night after his marriage with snake bite while in sleep. After he got married, on that particular day, his wife who knew about the fact, did not let her husband sleep and placed all her ornaments and tons of gold and silver coins in a stack at the doorway of the bedroom and also lit lamps all over the place. To keep her beloved husband awake, she told her stories and sang song all night. The messenger of death Yamraj came to take Hima and took the form of a snake. He could not enter the room as his eyes were temporarily deprive of sight owing to the brilliance of refection from the gold and silver along with the lamps that she placed there. Yamraj set in the form of snake on top of the stake of gold and silver all night, listening to the stories and songs that the newly-wedded bride was telling her husband. Seeing her love and dedication towards her husband to save his life, he took mercy and left. Hence, the prince was saved from the mouth of pre-destined death owing to the cleverness of his wife. Since then, this day came to be known as Dhanteras and the following day is known as Naraka Chaturdashi as well as Yamadeepdaan, wherein, the women folk light earthen lamps inside and outside the house and is kept burning throughout the night venerating Yama, the god of Death. There is another mythological account associated with this auspicious festival. It is believed that in the celestial battle between the gods and the demons and when both churned the ocean for ‘amrit’ or divine nectar, Dhanavantri, the physician of the gods and an incarnation of Vishnu appeared carrying a pot of the elixir. Henceforth, this festival came to be known as Dhanteras after the name of Dhanavantri.
Celebration of Dhanteras
Dhanteras is known as the festival of wealth and is celebrated with great zest all over India, especially in the North Indian states. On this day Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped for prosperity and well being of the family as well as business. In the evening, the lamps are lit to welcome Dhan-Lakshmi, alpana or rangoli is made in the doorway, which includes imprints of foot steps of goddess Lakshmi. Aarti along with devotional hyms are sung by the devotees in praise of the Goddess of wealth and prosperity as well as sweets and fruits are offered to her. On this auspicious day, people buy gold and silver jewellery as well as utensils to glorify the occasion of Dhanteras.
About Dhanteras
The festival of Dhanteras is an auspicious Hindu festival that is celebrated 2 days before Diwali. There are several mythological stories associated with this festival. As per a legend, there is an interesting story associated with this festival. It is about a young 16 years old king Hima, whose horoscope predicted that he will die on the 4th night after his marriage with snake bite while in sleep. After he got married, on that particular day, his wife who knew about the fact, did not let her husband sleep and placed all her ornaments and tons of gold and silver coins in a stack at the doorway of the bedroom and also lit lamps all over the place. To keep her beloved husband awake, she told her stories and sang song all night. The messenger of death Yamraj came to take Hima and took the form of a snake. He could not enter the room as his eyes were temporarily deprive of sight owing to the brilliance of refection from the gold and silver along with the lamps that she placed there. Yamraj set in the form of snake on top of the stake of gold and silver all night, listening to the stories and songs that the newly-wedded bride was telling her husband. Seeing her love and dedication towards her husband to save his life, he took mercy and left. Hence, the prince was saved from the mouth of pre-destined death owing to the cleverness of his wife. Since then, this day came to be known as Dhanteras and the following day is known as Naraka Chaturdashi as well as Yamadeepdaan, wherein, the women folk light earthen lamps inside and outside the house and is kept burning throughout the night venerating Yama, the god of Death. There is another mythological account associated with this auspicious festival. It is believed that in the celestial battle between the gods and the demons and when both churned the ocean for ‘amrit’ or divine nectar, Dhanavantri, the physician of the gods and an incarnation of Vishnu appeared carrying a pot of the elixir. Henceforth, this festival came to be known as Dhanteras after the name of Dhanavantri.
Celebration of Dhanteras
Dhanteras is known as the festival of wealth and is celebrated with great zest all over India, especially in the North Indian states. On this day Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped for prosperity and well being of the family as well as business. In the evening, the lamps are lit to welcome Dhan-Lakshmi, alpana or rangoli is made in the doorway, which includes imprints of foot steps of goddess Lakshmi. Aarti along with devotional hyms are sung by the devotees in praise of the Goddess of wealth and prosperity as well as sweets and fruits are offered to her. On this auspicious day, people buy gold and silver jewellery as well as utensils to glorify the occasion of Dhanteras.