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Dhanteras 2017- Date And Significance:- The most awaited festival of all, Diwali or Deepavali is here. You decorate your house by lighting oil lamps and making rangoli on this auspicious day. Gorging on some delicious sweets and snack and meeting up with friends and families are also part of the festive celebration.

Diwali, the festival of lights, falls this year on October 19. The victory of good over evil and light over darkness, is symbolized by this festival. The celebration starts with Dhanteras or Dhanvantari Trayodashi or Dhanatrayodashi. Dhanteras is celebrated on the first day of Diwali and it falls on October 17 this year. It is the day when you worship Dhanvantari, the god of Ayurveda and a teacher. 

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The Dhanteras celebration is associated with buying gold, jewelry, silver coins and utensils on this day. It is part of the tradition followed by Hindus.

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It is believed that goddess Lakshmi emerged on the day of Dhantrayodashi, during the churning of the ocean of milk. So, as per old stories, on this day, goddess Lakshmi visits the house of her devotees and blesses them with prosperity. It is also said that Dhanvantari came out with a jar of amrita or the elixir on Dhanteras, while churning of the ocean of milk.

There is another story about Dhanteras. According to legends, King Hima had a son and his horoscope revealed that on the fourth day of his wedding, he will be killed by snakebite. His wife was a clever woman. At the entrance of their room, she placed her ornaments and kept the room lit with oil lamps. To keep her husband awake, she also sang songs and told stories to him.

Yama, the god of death, could not enter the chamber when he came to get the prince’s soul as a serpent, as he was dazzled by the brilliant shine of the jewelry and the lit lamps. The serpent sat on top of the jewelry and enjoyed the songs and stories told by prince’s wife. The next morning, Yama left the chamber without the prince. This day is celebrated as Dhanteras.

Yamadeepdaan or Naraka Chaturdashi is called as the next day. On this day the lamp is kept lit throughout the night. It is also called Chhoti Diwali. Dhanteras is celebrated by worshiping Dhanvantari, goddess Lakshmi and Kubera. People also make colorful rangoli at their doorstep with small footprints inside the house. These footprints indicate that goddess Lakshmi has arrived.

We wish our readers a happy and prosperous Dhantrayodashi.

SUPRAJA