Dhanteras, also known as "Dhanatrayodashi" or "Dhanvantari Trayodashi," is one of the most auspicious and celebrated Hindu festivals in India. It marks the beginning of the five-day Diwali festival and holds significant cultural and religious importance. This festival, observed on the 13th day of the dark fortnight in the month of Ashwin, usually falls in October or November, and is dedicated to the worship of wealth, prosperity, and well-being. Let’s understand the significance of Dhanteras and the traditional ways in which it is celebrated.
Significance of Dhanteras: The Festival of Wealth
Dhanteras is a composite word that consists of "Dhan," meaning wealth or riches, and "Teras," referring to the 13th day of the lunar fortnight. The festival has several layers of significance, each carrying a rich cultural and spiritual legacy.
1. Worship of Lord Dhanvantari: The primary significance of Dhanteras is the veneration of Lord Dhanvantari, the divine physician and the provider of health and well-being. Lord Dhanvantari is believed to have emerged from the churning of the cosmic ocean (Samudra Manthan) with a pot of the elixir of life (Amrita) in his hands. Hence, people pray to him to seek blessings for good health and a disease-free life.
2. Celebration of Wealth: Dhanteras is a day to celebrate material wealth and prosperity. It is believed that on this day, Goddess Lakshmi, the deity of wealth, and Lord Kubera, the treasurer of the Gods, visit the homes of devotees to bless them with financial success, fortune, and abundance. People purchase gold, silver, or utensils on Dhanteras as it is considered an auspicious time to make investments and acquire new assets.
3. Spiritual Cleansing: Dhanteras signifies the purification of one's self and surroundings. It is customary to clean and decorate homes and workplaces, light lamps and diyas, and create a serene and inviting ambiance for the deities to bless the dwellings with prosperity and well-being.
4. Tradition of Lighting Lamps: The illumination of lamps and candles is an essential part of the festival. It symbolizes the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. Rows of oil lamps are lit to dispel negativity and invite positivity into homes and hearts.
How Dhanteras is Celebrated: Customs and Traditions
Dhanteras is a festival celebrated with great enthusiasm and reverence across India. The customs and traditions associated with this festival vary from region to region, but some common practices are followed by people of all backgrounds.
1. House Cleaning: In the days leading up to Dhanteras, people engage in thorough cleaning and decluttering of their homes. This act not only symbolizes the removal of impurities and negative energies but also sets the stage for welcoming Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Kubera.
2. Purchase of Precious Metals and Utensils: On Dhanteras, it is customary to buy gold, silver, or other precious metals as well as kitchen utensils. These purchases are believed to bring financial prosperity and are often seen as a form of investment. Jewelers and shops witness a surge in customers during this time.
3. Rangoli and Decoration: Homes are adorned with colorful rangoli patterns at the entrance, and traditional motifs are drawn to welcome the deities. Flowers, mango leaves, and torans (decorative door hangings) are used for decoration.
4. Lighting Oil Lamps: Lighting lamps and diyas is a central element of Dhanteras. In the evening, families come together to light earthen lamps or candles, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.
5. Offerings and Prayers: Special prayers and rituals are performed in front of the family deity or a picture of Lord Dhanvantari. Devotees seek his blessings for health and well-being. Offerings of sweets, flowers, fruits, and incense are made.
6. Exchange of Gifts: Dhanteras is also a time for exchanging gifts among family and friends. It is a way of expressing love and good wishes for one another, and gifts often include sweets, dry fruits, and small tokens of prosperity.
7. Charity and Giving: It is considered auspicious to give to the less fortunate on Dhanteras. Donations to the needy, such as food, clothing, and money, are seen as acts of kindness and a means of accumulating positive karma.
8. Feasting: Like many Indian festivals, Dhanteras is a time for feasting on delicious and traditional dishes. Families prepare a variety of sweets and savory snacks to share with loved ones.
Dhanteras not only celebrates wealth but also underscores the values of cleanliness, spirituality, and unity among families and communities. The rituals and customs associated with this festival help individuals to cultivate a sense of gratitude for the prosperity they have and inspire them to share their wealth with those in need. It is a time when people pause to reflect on the significance of wealth in their lives and to express their devotion to the deities who provide for their well-being.
Dhanteras is a cherished and significant festival in India that honors the virtues of wealth, health, and prosperity. It is a time for family gatherings, acts of charity, and expressions of devotion to the divine. As the first day of the Diwali festival, Dhanteras sets the stage for days of joy, celebration, and the triumph of light over darkness.
Here are a few selected messages for you which you can share with your family and friends
May you always be guided by the blessings of Goddess Lakshmi, Goddess Durga and Lord Kubera, and may prosperity never leave your life.Dear Goddess Lakshmi! Bless the recipient of this message with thirteen times Dhan on Dhanteras. Happy Dhanteras!May this Dhanteras shower you with wealth and prosperity as you journey towards greater success. Happy Dhanteras!!May this Dhanteras Celebration bless you with prosperity and abundance. Endless Happiness comes at your doorsteps. Wishing you a very bright future in life. Shubh Dhantrayodashi 2023!May goddess Laxmi bless your business to do well in spite of all odds. A very happy and prosperous Dhanteras.Dear Goddess Lakshmi and dear Kuber Maharaj! Graciously bless the recipient of this message with good health, good wealth and good fortune on the divine occasion of dhantrayodashi. Shubh dhanteras 2023!God’s blessing may come as a surprise. How much you receive depends on how much your heart can believe. May you be blessed beyond what you expect. Shubh Dhanteras.Draw small footprints with rice flour and vermilion powder all over the house and keep the lamps burning all through the night to indicate Mother Lakshmi’s long-awaited arrival. Happy Dhanteras to you and your entire family. Almighty’s blessings may come as a surprise, but I sincerely pray that you be blessed beyond what you expect on this Shubh Dhanteras.Clean your homes, decorate with candles, make Rangolis and light up diyas as Goddess Lakshmi is about to come. Happy Dhanteras!On the festive occasion of Dhanteras, let us buy some gold and silver as the tradition and celebrate this special day…. Happy Dhanteras to you.Diyas glow for hours, Sun glows for a day, but my wishes for you are going to glow forever. Have a happy and blessed Dhanteras!May the festival of Dhanteras brighten your heart and home with happiness and fill it with sparkles of happiness and success…. Warm wishes on Dhanteras to you.May your life be full of happiness and harmony with enough wealth to give you all comforts you ever wished. Stay blessed. Happy Dhanteras!Wishing you a season full of festivities and happiness…. May you have a Dhanteras full of prayers to Almighty and blessings from Lord Ganesh and Maa Laxmi.May this Dhanteras Light up new dreams, fresh hopes, undiscovered avenues, different perspectives, everything bright and beautiful and fill your days with pleasant surprises and moments. Happy Dhanteras to you and your family.Wishing a very Happy Dhanteras to you…. Sending you warm greetings on this auspicious occasion which marks the beginning of a new year full of celebrations.
May your business grow consistently every day, and may there always be peace and harmony in your family. I wish for you a perennial shower of wealth on the auspicious occasion of Dhanteras.May the festivities of Dhanteras be full of great enthusiasm and brightness for you…. Warm wishes on Dhanteras.Matchstick glows for a minute, a candle glows for an hour and Sun glows for a day but a wish can glow forever. So, I wish for your good health and wealth. Have a happy and glowing Dhanteras 2023!Wishing a very Happy Dhanteras to you and your family….. Wishing you lots of blessings from Lord Dhanvantri for a healthy and happy life.
