Dhanteras falls on Friday, October 25, 2019. It is the first festival that is celebrated in the chain of five-day-long Diwali festivities. The festival is celebrated two days before Diwali. Diwali commences with Dhanteras. It is one of the most important Hindu festivals which is also popular as ‘Dhantrayodashi’ or ‘Dhanvantari Trayodashi’ also.
It is believed that worshipping Goddess Lakshmi on Dhanteras bestows devotees with abundant wealth and prosperity. The term ‘Dhan’ literally means wealth and ‘Teras’ means Trayodashi tithi. Not only businessmen but everyone from the Hindu community celebrates their possessions and wealth on this sacred day. The festival of Dhanteras is always celebrated on the thirteenth day of Krishna Paksha in the month of Ashwin according to the Hindu lunar calendar.
There are a few rituals performed on the day of Dhanteras. They include:
Buying kitchen items such as metal utensils.
Buying gold and silver coins, ornaments and other prestigious metallic items.
Worshipping Goddess Lakshmi with all rituals.
Decorating the house beautifully to welcome the Goddess. Lighting up lamps or diyas.
Making beautiful Rangoli at the entrance of the house so that Goddess Lakshmi enters happily into your house.
Singing aarti and devotional hymns eulogizing the Goddess of wealth.
Offering home-made sweets and fresh fruits to the deity.
Along with Goddess Lakshmi, Lord Kuber is also worshipped on this day. Kuber is the treasurer of wealth and the bestower of riches.
Placing a copper kalash filled with water preferably Ganga jal and tulsi leaves in the house temple. Sprinkle this holy water on your family members before and after pooja.
Many people conduct three-day-long hawan to please the Goddess. The hawan starts on the Dhanteras day and ends on the day of Diwali.
Panchamrit is prepared early morning and is considered as traditional Prasad. After the pooja, it is distributed among all family members along with sweets.
Stick ready-made footprints of Goddess Lakshmi on your entrance gate to symbolize wealth and prosperity.
The zeal and enthusiasm for Dhanteras always remain alive in the heart of people. People of all classes have immense faith in this festival and they surely buy new things on this day irrespective of their status. So get ready to buy something for the purpose of celebrating the wealth you have. Buying a new item signifies that you can afford that thing and this expresses the presence of money in your house.
Dhanteras is marked as an occasion to celebrate life and happiness. It is a significant part of Diwali festivities. Following Dhanteras rituals pleases Goddess Lakshmi who showers prosperity all year round on the devotees.
Happy Dhanteras!