Dhanteras, Dhantrayodashi or Dhanvantari Triodasi is the first day of Diwali.It falls on the auspicious thirteenth lunar day of Krishna paksha in the Hindu calendar month of Ashwin. The vehicle of Goddess Lakshmi Owl is worshiped on this day.
Dhanteras is celebrated with gusto and enthusiasm. Lakshmi Puja is performed in the evenings when tiny diyas of clay are lit to drive away the shadows of evil spirits. Bhajans, devotional songs in praise of Goddess Laxmi, are sung and “Naivedya” of traditional sweets is offered to the Goddess.
Dhanteras holds special significance for the business community due to the customary purchases of precious metals on this day. However, the festival also has a mythological importance. As the legendary story goes, once, the sixteen year old son of King Hima was doomed to die of a snake-bite on the fourth day of his marriage as per his horoscope. To combat such an adversity, his young wife did not allow him to sleep. She laid out gold ornaments and lots of silver coins in a big heap at the entrance of her husband’s boudoir and lighted innumerable lamps all over the place. She, also went on telling stories and singing songs so as to prevent her husband fall asleep. The glittering outburst from the gold heaps blinded the eyes of Lord Yama, as he approached to bite King Hima’s son in the guise of a serpent. In spite of trying hard, the unending songs & tales of the wife and above all the brilliant lights prevented him to enter the Prince’s chamber. So, the serpent kept on waiting and with the crack of dawn, he had to leave quietly. 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 Yama, the god of Death.
Apart from Dev Dhanvantri, Goddess Lakshmi and God Kuber are worshipped on this day. However, Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped with heart-felt prayers on this special day. Lakshmi Puja is performed by devotees in the evenings by lighting tiny diyas with the goal to drive the shadows of evil spirits away.
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