Diwali is just coming near and all the Indians all over the country as well as whole globe are getting ready for this huge celebration. This festival marks the start of the five days long diwali festival which is celebrated to commemorate the homecoming of the Lord Rama to Ayodhya after spending 14 years of exile. The very beginning is done with the festival named Dhanteras 2017 which is a very suspicious occasion as on this special day all the followers worship Lord Laxmi and pray them to bring wealth and prosperity to the family. This festival is also named as Dhantrayodashi or Dhanvantri Jayanti which means “Dhan” having meaning wealth and the word “teras” means “the thirteen day” . This holy festival is then celebrated by all the Indians on the thirteenth day of the dark fortnight in the Kartik month which is two days before the diwali. This year this festival is celebrated on 17th of October 2017.
Significance of This Festival
Just like all other festivals, Dhanteras 2017 also has history and its own significance. Though there are some of the stories that are related to it, however, the story of the son of King Hima which is 16 years old is the most popular one. It is said according to the story that the son was destined to die because of the snake bite on the fourth day after his marriage. When the fourth day comes after his marriage, his wife did not want him to sleep. She then decided to make a heap of all her gold ornaments and all the silver coins at the entrance of their bedroom and then she also lighted all the innumerable lamps all over the place where they are living. She done all the preparations to cover each and every corner of the room and try that there was no dark corners left. In order to keep her husband awake, she started singing songs and sometimes narrates stories.
When the God of the Death, Yam arrived to take him, he arrived disguised as a serpent and then suddenly his eyes got blinded by the sharp and bright lights that are placed within the room and so he was not able to enter inside the room. He could do one thing only that sitting on a gold heap and listen to the price’s wife beautiful songs. When the morning came, he left the palace and in this way the young wife save her husband from clutches of death. Since, from that day, Dhanteras festival is known as the day of Yamahdeepdaan and still today all the people light lamps that burns all night on this auspicious festival.
How to celebrate?
On this day, people cleans their houses and decorate them with colourful lightening and make the small feet of Goddess Laxmi using the rice flour at the starting or entrance of the house towards the temple. Rangolis are made by people in order to adorn the corners of the house and diyas are placed all over the house walls and corners. Some people refer to have fast on this day and while some do Puja in the evening after the sun sets. In the evening, when the puja is carried out, all the people place seven grains before the Goddess Laxmi in order to seek blessings from her for wealth and prosperity.
It is believed that on this very auspicious day, people used to buy silver utensils and gold ornaments in order to bring luck to their houses. People use to light diyas in front of the main entrance till morning in order to get rid of all the unlucky and evil forces and negative energies.
Prasad and Bhog
Mainly, all people prefer to make puris and sweets during this festival to offer it to the Goddess Laxmi. A mixture is prepared by mixing equal quantity of Honey, ghee, sugar, yoghurt and milk which is also known as Panchamrit which is then offered to the deity in most of the regions.
Puja and Muhurat Timings
Dhanteras Puja Timing- 19:32 pm to 20:18 pm
Pradosh Kaal – 17:49 pm to 20:18 pm
Vrishabha Kaal – 19:32 pm to 21:33 pm
Trayodashi Tithi Starts at 00:26 am on 17th October, 2017
Trayodashi Tithi Ends at 00:08 am on 18th October, 2017
Lakshmi puja should be done during Pradosh Kaal which usually starts after sunset.
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