Dhanteras 2010: Dhanteras Festival Mythology and Information

Dhanteras is the one of the most auspicious day of Diwali, which is celebrated with great enthusiasm before two days of Diwali. This significant festival is also known as Dhantrayodashi or Dhanwantari Triodasi. In the word ‘Dhanteras’ Dhan stands for wealth (Dhana) and Teras stands for the date 13th. On this festival, Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity, is worshiped to provide prosperity and wealth. She is worshipped in the evenings when tiny earthen lamps are lit to drive away the shadows of evil spirits. The devotional psalms in praise of Goddess Lakshmi are also sung.

Dhanteras holds special importance for the people concerned with businesses, because to purchase precious gold, silver and metal articles on this day is considered very auspicious. It is believed that new precious metal is a sign of good luck, so people buy different items on this day. To celebrate this festival houses and business premises are decorated and beautifully colored. Entrances are made colorful with lovely Rangoli. Lamps are kept burning all through the nights.

Dhanteras mythology

According to the legend, once the sixteen years old son of king Hima was doomed to die by snakebite on the fourth day of his marriage. This was predicted by the prince’s horoscope. On that particular fourth day, his young wife did not allow him to sleep. She laid all the ornaments and numerous silver coins in a big heap at the entrance of her husband's boudoir. She lighted innumerable lamps all over the place and told many stories to him and sang songs through whole night.

In the mid night, when Yama, the god of death arrived there in the guise of a snake, his eyes got blinded by that dazzle of those brilliant lights and he could not enter the prince's chamber. So he climbed and sat on top of the heap of the ornaments and coins whole night and heard the harmonious stories and songs. In the morning he quietly went away. Thus the prince was saved by his young wife. Since then this day of Dhanteras came to be known as the day of ‘Yamadeepdaan’ and small earthen lamps are kept burning throughout the night in the respect of lord Yama.

The legend of the Ocean Churning

According to another legend, which deals with the churning of the ocean, when the gods and demons churned the ocean of milk for the divine amrita (nectar), lord Dhanavantri emerged carrying a pot of the divine amrita on the day of Dhanteras. Lord Dhanavantri is considered an incarnation of lord Vishnu and physician of the gods. According to this legendary tale, the word Dhanteras is taken from the name Dhanavantri.

In countryside, cattle are decorated and worshipped by farmers. The cattle form the main source of their income. Cows are specially worshipped, as they are considered the incarnations of the Goddess Lakshmi.

Dhanteras 2010 Dats: Dhanteras 2010 date is November 3