Dhanteras or Dhantrayodashi is the 1st day of the 5-day festival of Diwali, the biggest Hindu festival in India.
It’s celebrated on the 13th day of the Krishna paksha (the waning cycle) of the lunar month of Ashwin in the Hindu calendar. Dhan means wealth, and teras means thirteen.
Dhanteras is celebrated in honour of Dhanavantri, the physician of the gods & an incarnation of Vishnu.
Legend
According to the Vishnu Purana, Dhanavantri emerged from the ocean during samudra-manthan - when the asuras and devas churned the waters – carrying a vessel of ambrosia, the elixir of life. He was preceded by Goddess Lakshmi seated on a lotus.
Dhanavantri is considered to be the 12th incarnation of Lord Vishnu. He is believed to be the founder of Indian systems of medicine, especially of Ayurveda.
Another interesting story about this day is of the 16-year-old son of King Hima. According to his horoscope the prince was destined to die of snakebite on the 4th day of his wedding. His young wife did not allow him to sleep on that particular day. She placed all the ornaments and piles of gold and silver coins at the entrance of her husband’s boudoir & lit innumerable earthern lamps all over the place. The whole night she sang songs and narrated stories.
When Yama, the god of Death came there in the guise of a serpent, he was blinded by the dazzling lights and couldn’t enter the Prince’s chamber. So Yama climbed on top of the pile of coins and ornaments and listened to the melodious songs the whole night and left quietly in the morning. Thus, the Prince’s young wife saved him from the clutches of death. Since then this day is known as “YAMADEEPDAAN” and lamps are left burning all through the night in reverential adoration to Yama, the god of Death.
Rituals & Celebrations
On this festive occasion, houses & business premises are renovated and beautifully decorated. Entrances are made colorful with exquisite traditional motifs of rangoli (floor decorations with flower petals or coloured powders) designs to welcome Goddess Lakshmi. Mango leaves & marigolds are woven into gorgeous torans (door hangings). To indicate Goddess Lakshmi’s long-awaited arrival, tiny footprints are drawn with vermilion powder and rice flour all over the house.
Traditionally, people purchase gold jewelry & silver coins inscribed with images of Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha on Dhanteras as it’s supposed to bring good fortune. Women pick up new kitchen utensils. After sunset, an earthen lamp is lit and is left burning throughout the night as an offering (daan) to propitiate Lord Yama.
Lakshmi-Puja is performed in the evenings and naivedya – a collection of traditional sweets – is offered as prasad to the Goddess.
In villages, farmers adorn and worship cattle as they form their main source of income. To augur success, those involved in business and trade perform puja of their new ledgers. In urban India, a number of business deals are finalized around this time & business houses give a Diwali bonus and gifts to their employees on this auspicious occasion.
Related Article:
Rath Yatra – Festival of the Chariots (bluebell25.wordpress.com)
