------------------------------------------------ Today – October 21, 2014 – is Dhanteras (ACCORDING TO THE HINDU RELIGION) ------------------------------------------------ Dhanteras or Dhantrayodashi is observed two days before Diwali in North India, Maharashtra and Gujarat. The day is dedicated to Dhanvantari, the physician of the gods. Lakshmi Puja in the evening is an important ritual on the day. There is no straightforward answer to what to do on Dhan Teras or how to observe Dhanteras, as the rituals and celebrations vary from region to region. Here is a general idea of what people do on Dhanteras. ************************************************************************************************ -------------------------------- Diwali Shopping is Completed -------------------------------- Dhanteras is observed differently by different communities. It is considered to be highly auspicious day to do new purchases and investment. Most people complete the Diwali shopping on the day. The first lamps of Diwali are lit on the day. People hang up paper lanterns with festoons and sends out the message of the arrival of Diwali. ************************************************************************************************ ------------------------------------ Get-Together of All Family Members ------------------------------------ Dhanteras is not all about material wealth it is also a time to develop spiritual wealth and family bonding. All family members arrive at ancestral home on the day. Grand Parents and Parents wait for the day as sons, daughters and grand children arrive from distant places. ************************************************************************************************ ----------------------------- Welcoming Goddess Lakshmi ------------------------------ Goddess Lakshmi is welcomed into the house on Dhanteras day in many regions in the evening. Rangoli is drawn on doorways and tiny footprints of Lakshmi are drawn in vermilion to symbolize her arrival. Devotional songs dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi are sung in the evening. Sweets are offered to the Goddess on the day. ************************************************************************************************ --------------------------------------- Goddess Lakshmi Puja for Three Days --------------------------------------- In some regions Goddess Lakshmi Puja is performed for three days – Dhanteras, Choti Diwali and Diwali. On the first day, Dhanteras day, all family members especially men and women bathe after applying fragrance, medicinal herbs or preparation and fragrant oils. Murti – painting or idol or picture – of Goddess Lakshmi is washed with water and worshipped for three days commencing from Dhanteras. ************************************************************************************************ --------------------------------- Buying Gold - Silver or Utensil --------------------------------- Dhanteras – Dhan means ‘wealth’ and theras indicates ‘the thirteenth day’. In most places in North India, Gujarat and Maharashtra, Dhanteras is an auspicious day to buy precious metals like gold, platinum and silver. Women shop for gold or silver or at least one or two new utensils on the day. Precious metal bought on the day is seen as a sign of good luck. ************************************************************************************************ -------------------------------- Earthern Diyas in the Evening -------------------------------- Earthern diyas are lit on Dhanteras day in the evening to banish the evil spirits. ************************************************************************************************ ------------------------------ Worship of Domestic Animals ------------------------------ Cows are worshipped on the day in many regions. They are given proper washing. Fresh food items are provide. It is believed that cows usher in prosperity. ************************************************************************************************ ----------------------------------------------- A Rare Fasting in Some Regions For Ancestors ----------------------------------------------- In some regions, people wake up early in the morning, take bathe, and wear new clothes. Fasting is observed from sunrise to sunset and is broken after lighting an earthen-lamp in front of the door of the house. ************************************************************************************************ -------------------- Floating of Lamps -------------------- Deepdaan is an important ritual observed on Dhanteras day in many regions. Lamps are lit in the name of all family members and ancestors and they are floated in a river or pond. ************************************************************************************************ ------------ Yamdeepdan ------------ Dhanteras is also observed as Yamadeepdaan by many communities. ************************************************************************************************ -------------------- Dhanvantri Puja -------------------- The day is also dedicated to Dhanavantri, the divine physician, and therefore special Dhanvantari Puja is held on the day by some communities. *********************************************************************************************** ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Collecting Water for Holy Bath or Abhyanga Snan on Narak Chaturdashi ----------------------------------------------------------------------- On the Dhanteras day, the main water containers in homes are scrubbed and given a shiny and neat look. They are then decorated with marigold flowers or garland and vermilion paste is applied on it. Water stored in the container symbolically represents water from Holy Ganga. This water is used to take bath on the next day morning – on Narak Chaturdashi day. This early morning bathing is known as Abhyanga Snan. ************************************************************************************************ -------------------------------------------------------- Lakshmi Puja in Western Parts of India (Very Limited) --------------------------------------------------------- Lakshmi Puja is done on the Dhanteras day by many communities. It must be noted here that majority of people observe Lakshmi Puja on Diwali day. Lakshmi Puja on Dhanteras is more popular in Gujarat. ************************************************************************************************ -------------------------------------- Thoughts and Quotes on Dhanteras -------------------------------------- Majority of Hindu festivals are based on seasons and are rooted in agriculture. Cattle are very important part of agrarian economy. On Dhan Teras farmers worship their cattle. The horns of cattle and oxen are colored red and are fed with sweets and other delicacies. Prasad made from sesame seeds are distributed as sesame symbolizes productivity. Thus each ritual on Dhanteras extols the need for the coexistence of man and Nature. Goddess Lakshmi puja is also an important ritual on Dhanteras. In Dhanteras, ‘Dhan’ means wealth. On Dhanteras, Goddess Lakshmi is worshiped to provide prosperity and well being. Goddess Lakshmi is not all about gold, wealth or money making. There is also spiritual wealth, health is also wealth….Only that monetary wealth which has a strong backing of spiritual wealth can be enjoyed, replenished and sustained. A Parthasarathy explains Goddess Lakshmi and wealth like this… Wealth in this context does not mean only money. It also includes the nobler values of life, the power of the mind and the intellect, moral and ethical qualities, etc, which constitute the spiritual wealth. These are the types of wealth to be acquired before one’s initiation into actual spiritual learning and knowledge. *********************************************************************************************** ----------------------------------------------- Significance of Dhanteras and its origin ----------------------------------------------- Dhanteras or Dhan Teras marks the beginning of Diwali and is observed two days before Diwali. It is the thirteenth day of the dark fortnight of Kartik Month and is also known as Dhantra Yodashi. In 2014, Dhanteras is on October 21. The importance of Dhanteras is that a new utensil or gold or silver is bought for the house. The day is dedicated to Dhanavantri, the physician of the gods. According to Hindu legend, when devas and asuras were churning the ocean for ‘amrit’ - the nectar of immortality - Dhanvantri emerged from the ocean with the jar of amrit on this day. On this day, Hindus purchase gold, silver and other utensils. Many people begin the purchase for Diwali celebrations on this day. Crackers, candles, diyas, hatri, clays idols of Lord Ganesh and Goddess Lakshmi, earthen katoris, kulris, chaugaras, toys and whole lot of other items needed for Diwali are purchased on this day. For those doing business, Dhanteras is the day when new account books are bought and kept ready for the Lakshmi puja on Diwali. Interestingly, a girl child born on Dhanteras day is considered as the arrival of Goddess Lakshmi into the house and is considered lucky by certain communities in North India. When girls born on Dhanteras get married and leave for her husband’s home, she leaves her footprints on a plate covered with ‘kumkum’ (red powder used in Hindu puja), this is to ensure that Goddess Lakshmi does not leave the house. ********************************************************************************************** ----------------- Dhantrayodashi ----------------- Dhantrayodashi is the first day of the traditional five-day Diwali festival. The ritual is also known as Dhanteras. In 2014, the date of Dhantrayodashi is October 21. It is observed on the thirteenth day (Trayodashi) of the Krishna Paksha (waning phase of moon) in Ashwin month. The corresponding month in North Indian calendar is Kartik Month. The word ‘Dhan’ means wealth and the day is of great significance to the business community. Shops and business establishments are decorated on the day. Rangoli designs associated with Goddess Lakshmi are drawn. Dhanteras is observed elaborately by some Hindu communities. Small footprints symbolizing the arrival of Goddess Lakshmi are drawn around houses. Women make it a point to by new utensils and invest in gold or silver on the day. A diya is kept burning throughout the night. Lamps are also lit during night around the house to drive away evil spirits. Special dishes are prepared and offered to Goddess Lakshmi on the day. Dhanvantri Jayanti and Yamadeepdan are observed on the day. ************************************************************************************************ Dhanteras Puja Time in 2014 – Good Muhurt on Dhantaru in 2014 On Dhanteras falling two days before Diwali, people perform Lakshmi Puja in some regions. The Dhantaru puja is performed during the Shubh Time. In 2014, Dhanteras is on October 21, 2014 and the Muhurat or Good time to perform puja are: Dhantaru or Dhanteras Puja Time - October 21, 2014 9:32 AM to 1:50 PM 3:16 PM to 4:42 PM 7:41 PM to 9:14 PM 10:47 PM on October 21 to 1:53 AM on October 22 Please note that the time is based on Indian Standard Time. ************************************************************************************************ --------------------------------------------------------- Dhanteras 2014 date – the first day of Diwali in 2014 --------------------------------------------------------- Dhanteras is popularly known as the first day of Diwali and it is the day chosen by many people to make investments in gold or silver. Dhanteras 2014 date is October 21. It is observed two days before Diwali and falls on the thirteenth day of the dark fortnight of Kartik Month. In Gujarat, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra, the same period is the thirteenth day of Ashwina month. Dhanvantari Jayanti, Dhantrayodashi and Yamdeepdan are also observed on the day. A new utensil or gold or silver is bought for the house on the Dhanteras day. Some people also make it a point to make an investment on the day as it is believed that investments made on this day will appreciate. Most people also wait for the day to purchase and give away Diwali gifts. The day is also dedicated to Dhanavantri, the Hindu God of medicine, and therefore special Dhanvantari Puja is held on the day. The day is of great significance to business community and homes. Houses are decorated and special rangolis are drawn on the floor. Small foot prints are made in the houses. Some people also perform Lakshmi Puja on the day.
Posted on: Tue, 21 Oct 2014 06:29:59 +0000
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