UpdateBot at 14:11, 27 February 2022

2022-02-27T14:11:02Z

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{{Short description|First day of Diwali}}
{{EngvarB|date=October 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}}
{{Infobox holiday
| holiday_name = Dhanteras
| type = Hindu
| image = Godofayurveda.jpg
| imagesize =
| caption = Dhanvantari, Hindu god of medicine
| official_name = धनतेरस
| nickname = Dhanatrayodashi
| observedby = Hindus
| longtype = a constituent part of Diwali
| significance = celebration of health, wealth and prosperity
| date = {{Hindu festival date}}
| duration = 1 day
| frequency = Annual

| date2021 = 2nd Nov
| date2022 = 22nd Oct
| date2023 = 10th Nov
| celebrations =
| relatedto = [[Diwali]]
}}
{{Hindu festival date info}}
'''Dhanteras'''<ref>{{Cite news|date=13 November 2020|title=এবারের ধনতেরাস ঘুরে দাঁড়ানোর , এবারের ধনতেরাস পাশে দাঁড়ানোর|work=Nagarik News|url=https://www.nagariknewz.com/2020/11/business%20.html}}</ref> ({{lang-hi|धनतेरस}}), also known as '''Dhanatrayodashi''' ({{lang-sa|धनत्रयोदशी}}), is the first day that marks the festival of [[Diwali]] in India.

It is celebrated on the thirteenth lunar day of Krishna Paksha (dark fortnight) in the [[Hindu calendar]] month of [[Ashvini (month)|Ashvini]]. [[Dhanvantari]], who is also worshipped on the occasion of Dhanteras, is considered the God of [[Ayurveda]] who imparted the wisdom of Ayurveda for the betterment of mankind, and to help rid it of the suffering of disease.<ref>{{cite book |last= Hope-Murray |first= Angela |date= 2013 |title= Ayurveda For Dummies |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=DHfCCAAAQBAJ&q=dhanvantari&pg=PA10 |publisher= John Wiley & Sons |page= 10|isbn= 9781118306703 }}</ref> The Indian ministry of [[Ministry of AYUSH|Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy]], announced its decision to observe Dhanteras, as the "National Ayurveda Day", which was first observed on 28 October 2016.<ref name="indiatimes.com">{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/varanasi/Dhanteras-to-be-observed-as-National-Ayurveda-Day/articleshow/54599037.cms|title=Dhanteras to be observed as National Ayurveda Day | date=30 September 2016 | newspaper=Times of India| access-date=13 October 2018 }}</ref> Usually, Gujarati families will enjoy a meal of ''daal baath'' and ''malpua'' to ring in the new year.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ayurveda Day 2020: Narendra Modi To Inaugurate Two Ayurveda Institutions On November 13|url=https://www.ndtv.com/education/ayurveda-day-2020-narendra-modi-inaugurate-two-ayurveda-institutions-on-november-13|access-date=2020-11-12|website=NDTV.com|language=en}}</ref>

==Celebrations==
Vasubaras marks the beginning of the celebration of Diwali festival. On Vasubaras, the cow and her calf are worshiped. The cow holds a very sacred place in Vedic culture. Referred to as "Gau Mata" (''mother cow''), she is worshiped and nurtured with the utmost respect. "Gau Mata" and her Prasad "Pancha Gavya", or "Panchamrut", are frequently used in all Hindu celebrations. Vasubaras is followed by Dhanteras.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-11-11|title=Dhanteras 2020: Some important Dos and Don'ts you must follow on this day|url=https://english.jagran.com/lifestyle/dhanteras-2020-5-dos-and-donts-you-must-need-to-follow-on-this-festival-of-wealth-10019715|access-date=2020-11-12|website=Jagran English}}</ref>

Dhanteras is the worship of lord Dhanvantari. Lord Dhanvantari, according to Hindu traditions, emerged during [[Samudra Manthan]], holding a [[Kalasha]] full of [[Amrita|Amrit]] (an Ayurvedic herbal mix bestowing immortality) in one hand and the sacred text about Ayurveda in the other hand. He is considered to be the [[Vaidya]] of Gods.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Dash|first=Mousumi|date=2019-10-25|title=Why is Lord Dhanvantari worshiped on Dhanteras?|url=https://www.oneindia.com/india/why-is-lord-dhanvantari-worshiped-on-dhanteras-2967218.html|access-date=2020-11-12|website=oneindia.com|language=en}}</ref>

The festival is celebrated as [[Lakshmi Pujan|Lakshmi Puja]] which is performed in the evenings when lamps of clay ([[Diya (lamp)|Diyas]]) are lit. [[Bhajan]]s, devotional songs in praise of Goddess [[Lakshmi]], are sung and [[Naivedhya]] of traditional [[Confectionery|sweets]] is offered to the Goddess. A peculiar custom in [[Maharashtra]] exists where people lightly pound dried [[Coriander#Seeds|coriander seeds]] (Dhane in Marathi, for Dhanatrayodashi) with [[jaggery]] (cane sugar) and offer the mixture as Naivedhya.

On Dhanteras, homes that have not yet been cleaned in preparation for Diwali are thoroughly cleansed and whitewashed, and Lord Dhanvantari, the god of health and Ayurveda, is worshiped in the evening. The main entrance is decorated with colorful lanterns, holiday lights and traditional [[Motif (visual arts)|motif]]s of [[Rangoli]] designs are made 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 house. On the night of Dhanteras, diyas (lamps) are ritually kept burning all through the night in honor of Lakshmi and Dhanvantari.<ref name="Demon">{{cite book|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=8HhVcspIBU4C&pg=PA179 |title = Invisible River: Sir Richard's Last Mission|first=Zak|last=Vera|access-date = 26 October 2011|isbn = 978-1-4389-0020-9|date = February 2010}}</ref>

Hindus consider this an extremely auspicious day for making new purchases, especially of gold or silver articles and new utensils. It is believed that new ''"Dhan"'' (wealth) or some item made of [[precious metal]] is a sign of good luck. In modern times, Dhanteras has come to be known as the most auspicious occasion for buying gold, silver, and other metals, especially kitchenware. The day also sees heavy purchases of appliances and automobiles.

On this night, the lights are set out every night both in the sky lamps and as offerings at the base of a [[Tulsi]] plant and also in the form of [[diyas]], which are placed in front of the doorways of homes. This light is an offering to [[Yama (Hinduism)|Yama]], the Host of Death, to avert untimely death during the time of the Diwali festival. This day is a celebration aimed at increasing wealth and prosperity. Dhanteras engages themes of cleansing, renewal, and the securing of auspiciousness as embodied by Lakshmi.<ref name=TracyPintchman>{{cite book |last= Pintchman |first= Tracy |date= 2005 |title= Guests at God's Wedding: Celebrating Kartik among the Women of Benares |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=W-9Hq-DOXnEC&q=dhanteras&pg=PA59 |publisher= SUNY Press |page= 59 |isbn= 9780791482568 }}</ref>

In the villages, cattle are adorned and worshiped by farmers as their main source of income.

===Within India===

In South India (especially Tamil Nadu), [[Brahmin]] women make 'Marundhu' which translates as 'medicine' on the eve of Naraka Chaturdasi that is Dhanvantri Trayodashi. The Marundhu is offered during the prayer and eaten in the early morning on Naraka Chaturdasi before sunrise. In fact, many families hand over the recipes of Marundhu to their daughters and daughters-in-law. The Marundhu is consumed to eliminate the imbalance of [[Dosha|tridoshas]] in the body.

=== Dhanteras Rangolis ===
Indian people also celebrate Dhanteras by preparing rangolis.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-11-01|title=Dhanteras Rangoli Design: धनतेरस के दिन भगवान को करें प्रसन्न, मुख्य द्वार पर बनाएं ये खूबसूरत रंगोली|url=https://www.timesnowhindi.com/lifestyle/article/dhanteras-2021-easy-rangoli-designs-for-festival/370545|access-date=2021-11-02|website=www.timesnowhindi.com|language=hi}}</ref>

==Significance==

On the day of Dhantrayodashi, Goddess Lakshmi came out from the ocean of milk during the churning of the Sea. Hence, Goddess Lakshmi is worshiped on the day of Trayodashi.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|date=2020-11-10|title=Dhanteras 2020 Puja: Date & Time, Significance, Meaning|url=https://news.jagatgururampalji.org/dhanteras-2020/|access-date=2020-11-12|website=S A NEWS|language=en-US}}</ref> However, according to the holy scriptures, this worship is all folktale, which is not mentioned anywhere in our holy books. Even Shrimad Bhagavad Gita Adhyay 16 Shloka 23 and 24 has denied it.<ref name=":0" />

According to a popular legend, when the [[Deva (Hinduism)|deva]]s and [[asuras]] performed the [[Samudra manthan]] (churning of the ocean) for [[Amrita]] (the divine nectar of immortality), [[Dhanvantari]] (the physician of the Gods and an incarnation of [[Vishnu]]) emerged carrying a jar of the elixir on the day of Dhanteras.<ref name=TracyPintchman />

==Legends==
An ancient legend ascribes the occasion to an interesting story about the 16-year-old son of King Hima. His horoscope predicted his death by snake-bite on the fourth day of his marriage. On that particular day, his newly-wed wife did not allow him to sleep. She laid out all her ornaments and many [[gold]] and silver coins in a heap at the entrance of the sleeping chamber and lit many lamps. Then she narrated stories and sang songs to keep her husband from falling asleep; the next day, when [[Yama]], the god of Death arrived at the prince's doorstep in the guise of a serpent, his eyes were dazzled and blinded by the brilliance of the lamps and the jewellery. Yama could not enter the Prince's chamber, so he climbed on top of the heap of gold coins and sat there the entire night listening to the stories and songs. In the morning, he silently went away. Thus, the young prince was saved from the clutches of death by the cleverness of his new bride, and the day came to be celebrated as Dhanteras.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.timesnownews.com/business-economy/article/dhanteras-2017-how-this-auspicious-occasion-is-celebrated-timings-and-tithi/105560|title=Dhanteras 2017: How this auspicious occasion is celebrated, timings and tithi|date=2017|work=TimesNow|access-date=2017-10-13}}</ref>

The following day came to be called Naraka Chaturdashi ('Naraka' means hell and Chaturdashi means 14th). It is also known as ‘Yamadeepdaan’ as the ladies of the house light earthen [[wikt:lamp|lamp]]s or ‘deep’ and these are kept burning throughout the night glorifying Yama, the God of Death. Since this is the night before Diwali, it is also called 'Chhoti Diwali' or Minor Diwali.
In Jainism, this day is celebrated as DHANYATERAS instead of DHANTERAS meaning auspicious day of thirteenth. It is said that on this day Mahavira was in the state of leaving everything in this world and meditating before Moksha which made this day auspicious or DHANYA.

==See also==
* [[Ganesh]] – Hindu god

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Hindu festivals}}



[[Category:Hindu festivals]]
[[Category:Diwali]]
[[Category:Hindu holy days]]
[[Category:Religious festivals in India]]
[[Category:October observances]]
[[Category:November observances]]

Dhanteras - Revision history

UpdateBot at 14:11, 27 February 2022