Happy Dhanteras Celebration 2015 - 2016 mahalaxmi

About Dhanteras

Dhanteras is a first beautiful day festival of the great and famous Hindu festival, Diwali which is the five-days long festival and celebrated in Varanasi, UP, Bihar, Delhi and traditionally all over the India. Dhanteras festival is celebrated on triodasi month of the Krishna Paksha (the dark fortnight).
Dhanteras is an important part of Diwali festival celebrations. Dhanteras marks before the first day of Diwali celebrations. Dhanteras is also called Dhanvantari Trayodashi. It falls on the thirteenth lunar and light day of Krishna Paksha in the Hindu calender month of Kartik (October-November) every year. The word 'Dhan' signifies money or wealth. On the day of Dhanteras, people worship the Goddess of Wealth (Goddess Maan Lakshmi). Since Dhanteras is associated with the worship of Goddess Lakshmi, it is a very important celebration day in the homes of the mercantile community. In India, houses and market places wear a festive look on the day of Dhanteras and market places are abuzz with people all around.

Rituals and Celebrations of Dhanteras 

As Dhanteras is  associated with the worship of Most Goddess Mata Lakshmi, all people draw small footprints with rice flour and vermilion powder throughout the house right from the access to be entered (indicating the arrival of Goddess Lakshmi). As Dhantrayodashi or Dhanteras is considered very auspicious for all, people shop for gold, silver and some utensils and many more. To celebrate the auspicious arrival of Goddess Lakshmi, the homes of people are illuminated by oil lamps, which are lit throughout the night. Mata Lakshmi Puja is also an important part of the Dhanteras celebrations. The Lakshmi-Puja is performed at midnight. Devotional songs, in praise of Goddess Lakshmi, are sung by the people. Goddess Lakshi is offered naivedya many type of  sweets, which serve as the auspicious Prasad of the Goddess. In many parts of South India almost all over India, there is a tradition of cow worship by the farmers (on Dhanteras). For farmers, Pets cows signify wealth and are considered to be the incarnation of Goddess Maan Lakshmi.

How Dhanteras is Observed:

The day is also observed as Yama deepdaan, as the lady of the house lights earthen Deeps or lamps throughout the night so as to appease Lord Yama, and ensure that their husbands and household is protected from all deaths and obstacles.

It is a custom to buy jewellery of gold or silver on the night of Dhanteras and people from all walks of life make it a point that they invest a little of their money or savings so that they can buy at least a bit of gold or silver on this auspicious occasion. They also opt for buying a new utensil if there is any problem in buying gold or silver. Puja is performed on the site where the wealth of the house is kept, and Laxmi Puja is also performed along with that of Lord Ganesh.

Dhanteras falls on the thirteenth day of the month of ashwin. The word "Dhan" means wealth. As such this day of the five-day diwali festival has a great importance for the rich mercantile community of western India. Houses and business premises are renovated and decorated. Entrances are made colorful with lovely traditional motifs of rangoli designs to welcome the goddess of wealth and prosperity. To indicate her long-awaited arrival, small footprints are drawn with rice flour and vermilion powder all over the houses. Lamps are kept burning all through the nights. On this auspicious day women purchase some gold or silver or at least one or two new utensils. Pooja is performed in the evenings when tiny diyas of clay are lighted to drive away the shadows of evil spirits. "Bhajans"-devotional songs- are sung in praise of Goddess Maan Lakshmi.

Following is a calendar, showing the dates Dhanteras will fall upon in the next 5 years:

Date                      Year

2015                    9 November

2016 28 October

2017 17 October

2018 5 November

2019                    25 October

2020 12 November

Wish you very Happy Dhanteras to all.