Dhanteras

The Trayodashi of Kartik's Krishna paksha, two days before Diwali, and the opening day of the five-day festival of lights. It is held as the day Dhanvantari, physician of the devas, emerged from the churning ocean holding the amrit kalash — which is why the day belongs to health as much as to wealth. Households buy a metal item as shagun, worship Kuber and Lakshmi with Dhanvantari at pradosh kaal, and in the evening place a south-facing diya for Yamraj outside the main door.

Next date: 2026-11-06

vidhi

Clean the house in the morning — the cleaning is itself part of the parv — bathe, and take the sankalp for the evening puja at pradosh.,During the day, buy the shagun if you wish: a utensil, a silver coin, or simply whole dhaniya — bought with the bhav of welcoming Lakshmi, whatever the amount.,At pradosh kaal, set a chowki with images of Lakshmi, Ganesh, Kuber and Dhanvantari, and place a water-filled kalash with aam leaves and a nariyal beside them.,Worship Dhanvantari first — roli, akshat, flowers and naivedya — praying for the household's health through the year.,Then worship Kuber and Lakshmi: place the day's purchase and the household's cash or dhan-box before them, and offer kheel-batashe and mithai as bhog.,Chant Om Dham Dhanvantaraye Namah one hundred and eight times.,After sunset, have a family elder place the Yam deepam — an atta or mitti diya with mustard or til oil — outside the main door with its flame towards the south, and bow to Yamraj with a prayer that untimely death stay far from the house.,Light thirteen diyas around the house, do the aarti, and distribute the prasad.

katha

When the devas and asuras churned the ocean of milk, its treasures rose one after another — Kamadhenu, Airavat, Lakshmi herself — and last of all came Dhanvantari, physician of the devas, holding the kalash of amrit. He emerged on the Trayodashi of Kartik's dark fortnight, and that is the first meaning of Dhanteras: before wealth, the wealth of health. The Yam deepam has its own story. King Hima's son was fated by his horoscope to die of snakebite on the fourth night of his marriage. When that night came, his young wife would not let him sleep. She heaped her ornaments and coins of gold and silver at the door, lit lamps in every corner, and kept him awake with songs and stories. Yamraj came in the form of a serpent, but the blaze of the lamps and the glitter of the heap dazzled his eyes; he climbed the pile, sat listening to the songs through the night, and at dawn slipped away without taking the prince. From that night comes the diya lit for Yam on this evening — a lamp offered in respect, with the prayer that untimely death stay far from the house.

mantra

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samagri

Images or murtis of Lakshmi, Ganesh, Kuber and Dhanvantari,An atta or mitti diya for the Yam deepam, with mustard or til oil and a cotton wick,Ghee diyas for the puja and thirteen diyas for the house,Roli, akshat, chandan, haldi and fresh flowers,Kheel-batashe, mithai and whole dhaniya for the bhog,A kalash with water, aam leaves and a nariyal,The day's metal purchase — a utensil or a coin — to place in the puja (optional, as shagun),Dhoop, kapoor, and the household's coins or dhan-box for the Kuber puja

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