Dhanteras is the first day of celebrations during the festival of Diwali. This day is also referred to as Dhanwantari Triodasi or Dhantrayodashi. According to the Hindu Calendar, Dhanteras is celebrated on the thirteenth day of the month of Ashvin or Ashwayuja. As per the Gregorian calendar, Dhanteras usually falls in the month of October or November.

Significance of Dhanteras

‘Dhan’ refers to wealth while ‘trayodashi’ means thirteenth day. Therefore, Dhanteras is literally translated as wealth on the thirteenth day. On this day, prayers are offered to the goddess Lakshmi, asking her for her blessings in the form of wealth. She is also asked to provide prosperity in all business endeavours for the coming year. Dhanteras is considered a very auspicious day and is celebrated with great pomp, especially by members of the trading community.

Story Behind this Celebration

Although prayers are offered to the goddess Lakshmi on Dhanteras, the story behind its celebration deals with the Hindu God of death, Yama. Legend has it that the sixteen year old son of King Hima was destined to die on the fourth day after his marriage. This was foretold by an astrologer as per the boy’s horoscope. However, his wife refused to accept this fate for her husband.

On the fourth day of their marriage, she would not allow her husband to sleep. She laid all the ornaments of the house, as well as a horde of silver and gold coins at the entrance of her husband’s chamber. The entire room was brightly lit with a large number of lamps and the young wife too stayed awake all night singing songs and telling stories.

Yama arrived at the chamber in the guise of a serpent, in order to claim his victim. However, the dazzling brilliance of the lights blinded him and made it impossible for him to enter the Prince’s room. He climbed on top of the ornaments placed at the entrance and spent the night enchanted by the melody of the songs the wife sang. When morning came, he left quietly, without killing the Prince. Thus, the wife was successful in saving her husband. In this regard, Dhanteras is also referred to as Yamadeepdan.

On Yamadeepdan, lamps are left burning throughout the night as a form of reverence to Yama. It is also the night when people light lamps and float them down a river, in memory of their ancestors.