Dhanteras Puja Vidhi and Rituals

The festival of lights Diwali is basically the five days observance; which starts with the prominent day of Dhanteras. Dhanteras is also called Dwadashi Dhantrayodashi, Dhanvantari Trayodashi or Yama Deepam. 'Dhanvantari Trayodashi' or 'Dhantrayodashi' marks the birthday of Goddess Lakshmi who is popular as the Goddess of Wealth and Prosperity among her ardent followers. This day is also referred to as the birthday of Dhanvantari who is the God of Health and Healing. He is also famous as Kuber God in Hinduism. Dhanteras is derived from two Hindi words “Dhan” & “teras”. Dhan refers to Wealth &Teras means ‘Thirteenth’. Dhanteras is being observed on the thirteenth day of the Kartik month and solemnized as the 1st or 2nd day of the Diwali; depending on the Hindu lunar calendar.

Rituals of Dhanteras - A proper Puja Vidhi

As per the Hindu calendar, Dhanteras is celebrated on the opportune thirteenth lunar day of Krishna Paksha in the Hindu month of Kartik. In 2020 Dhanteras is observed on Friday, 13 November. Here are a proper puja vidhi and rituals of Dhanteras.

- Dhanteras is observed throughout the country with full devotion, fervor, and enthusiasm. People start decorating their houses, offices from this day with Rangoli, Lights, diyas, etc.
- To welcome the Goddess of Wealth and Prosperity Maa Lakshmi and to indicate her long-awaited arrival, small footprints are drawn with rice flour and vermilion powder all over the houses and temples.
- On this favorable day, a Chaumukhi Diya- a square Diya with four mouths is being lit up at the main entrance door of the house in the evening.
- Before lighting up the Diya (earthen lamps) in the evening, the puja of the diya is being done with Kumkum, Gud (jaggery), Coriander Seeds, Rice, Moong Daal (split green gram), one kodi (shell) with one hole, murmure ( a form of puffed rice), Patasha & Coins are put inside the Diya to worship the divinities.

- The Kodi (shell) is kept in the cash box or in the house on the next day morning to revere Kuber God.
- It is also said that by lighting this Diya which is Yama Deep, sudden death can be avoided.
- On this day, the Subh-Labh is written outside the door on both sides of the house.
- Few people write Ram Ram as well on each corner or else in the home temple.
- On this favorable day, there is a tradition of purchasing silver or gold coins, steel utensils and other jewelry even Lakshmi Ganesha silver idols to worship them on the day of Diwali.