Saturday 20 August 2011

Dhanteras Celebration

by Chitragupt Pariwar (Hum Kayasth) on Wednesday, November 3, 2010 at 12:23pm
We celebrate certain events because they are important on our life. These are the days of fun and laughter, joy and gaiety. As everybody knows that India is a country of festivals, every festival is celebrated with great passion and enthusiasm. Other names for Dhanteras are Dhantrayodashi or Dhanwantari Triodasi. Dhanteras is composed with two words Dhan for wealth teras for thirteenth day of Krishan Paksha according to Hindu month of Kartik (October November). Dhanteras ceremony is the beginning of Diwali carnival.

According to historical legend the son of King Hima was cursed to die by snakebite at the age of sixteen years on the fourth day of his marriage. On fourth day of marriage his wife spread all her knick-knacks and lots of silver coins in a big heap at the entrance and lighted many of the oil filled diyas all over the palace. She didn’t let her husband to sleep although she began to tell stories and sang song. When Yamraj, God of Death came, he became blind due to sparkling lights he could not enter the prince's compartment. Thus she saves her husband’s life, since the day is celebrated as yamadeepdaan.
One other legend marks the incarnation of Vishnu in the form of Goddess Lakshmi. It is belief that in this day Goddess Lakshmi immersed from Kshirsagar( ocean of milk) during churning of oceans by dev and danav (god and devils) carrying a container of Nectar (Amrit).

The festival Dhanwantri Triodasi is celebrated with passion and excitement. On this day people purchase gold or silver coins and ornaments or at least one or more new utensils and keep a row of deep burnt all night. In the evening people worshipped Goddess Lakshmi, the God of wealth and burn earthen lamps to drive away the shade of bad spirits. During Lakshmi Pujan aarti and bhajans (devotional songs) are chanted and customary sweets are offered to Goddess. In villages farmers garlanded cattle (incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi) as well as worshiped them in order to bless with prosperity and success. For business society Dhanteras embrace special importance to buy valuable metal on this day.

The day is celebrated to attain good health and wealth for the family and bought new valuable metal things for good luck. People decorate the houses and make the entrance colorful with rangoli designs to greet Lakshmi. Mostly people burn some diyas or lamps at the evening of Dhanteras.bac

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