19th
Oct 2006 - The beginning of Diwali Celebrations is marked from this day
Dhanteras; "Dhan" meaning wealth and "Teras" meaning thirteenth
symbolizing the thirteenth day of the month of Ashwin. Dhanteras is
also known as Dhantrayodashi. This day holds importance in the business
community since it is the day that Goddess Lakshmi, the Goddess of
Wealth and Prosperity is worshipped.
To
mark the auspicious day, houses and business premises are renovated and
decorated. Entrances are made colorful with lovely traditional motifs
of Rangoli designs to welcome the Goddess Lakshmi. To indicate her
long-awaited arrival, small footprints are drawn with rice flour and
vermilion powder all over the houses.
On
Dhanteras, people follow the tradition of purchasing gold and silver
ornaments. The ladies of the households buy one or two utensils for use
in the Kitchen. Buying New Wealth on this day is considered to be a
sign of good luck.
It is
believed that keeping the lamp lit through the night on Dhanteras would
not allow the God of Death to lay a finger on his victim. Therefore one
can say that the light of the lamps brings in prosperity, health and
long life.
A very
interesting story about Dhanteras Festival says that once the sixteen
year old son of King Hima. was doomed to die by a snake-bite on the
fourth day of his marriage as per his horoscope. On that particular
fourth day of his marriage his young wife did not allow him to sleep.
She laid all the ornaments and lots of gold and silver coins in a big
heap at the entrance of her husband's boudoir and lighted innumerable
lamps all over the place. And she went on telling stories and singing
songs.
When Yama, the god of
Death arrived there in the guise of a Serpent his eyes got blinded by
that dazzle of those brilliant lights and he could not enter the
Prince's chamber. So he climbed on top of the heap of the ornaments and
coins and sat there whole night listening to the melodious songs. In
the morning he quietly went away. Thus the young wife saved her husband
from the clutches of death. Since then this day of Dhanteras came to be
known as the day of Yamadeepdaan and lamps are kept burning
throughout the night in reverential adoration to Yam, the god of Death.
Clay lamps also indicates the victory of Light over Darkness, Good over
Evil, as well as the victory of Truth over Falsehood and that man can
succeed only through his virtues.
According
to another popular legend, when the gods and demons churned the ocean
for Amrit or nectar, Dhanavantri (the physician of the gods and an
incarnation of Vishnu) emerged carrying a jar of the elixir on the day
of Dhanteras.
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