Dhanteras 2023: Significance, Preparations and Puja Tithi!

Related Topics:Festivals and EventsRituals and TraditionsVrat and Puja

Dhanteras Puja or Dhantrayodashi Puja is the first day of the five-day-long Deepawali (Diwali) festival. It is believed on the day of Dhantrayodashi, Goddess Lakshmi, Lord Kuber and Lord Dhanvanteri emerged out of the ocean during the Samudra Manthan (churning of the Kshirasāgara). From this day onwards, all, Goddess Lakshmi (the Goddess of wealth and prosperity), Lord Kubera (the God of wealth) and Lord Dhanvanteri (the divine physician) are worshipped on this auspicious day of Trayodashi, called Dhanteras or Dhantrayodashi. However, Lakshmi Puja which is observed on the day of Deepawali on the Amavasya after two days of Dhantrayodashi is regarded as more significant.

Dhanteras Important Dates and Tithis 

• Dhanteras Puja on Friday, November 10, 2023
• Dhanteras Puja Muhurat – 05:47 PM to 07:43 PM
• Yama Deepam on Friday, November 10, 2023
• Trayodashi Tithi Begins – 12:35 PM on Nov 10, 2023
• Trayodashi Tithi Ends – 01:57 PM on Nov 11, 2023

As per Sanatan Hindu belief, Lakshmi Puja on Dhanteras or Dhantrayodashi should be done during Pradosh Kaal which starts after sunset and lasts for about 2 hours and 24 min. Avoid Choghadiya Kaal as those are good only for travelling. Pradosh kaal is the best time for Lakshmi Puja on Dhanteras when the lagna is fixed. Consult your local pandit for more insight on this. 

NOTE: You should also consult your pandit for the exact timing of puja in your location as every location may have different timings. 

Dhanteras is also celebrated as Dhanwantari Trayodasi or Dhanvantri Jayanti, the birth anniversary of the God of Ayurveda. Yamadeepam or Yama Trayodashi is also observed on the same Tithi in which Hindus lit a lamp for Yama (the God of death) outside their home to ward off all negative energies and pray to Yama Dev for no untimely death of any family members.

Dhanteras is observed on the Trayodashi tithi of Krishna Paksha (dark moon phase) of the Hindu Calendar month of Ashwin or Karthik (according to North Indian belief). It is the first day of the five-day celebration of Deepavali (the festival of lights). On this day, Sanatan Hindus also worship Dhanvantari, the God of Ayurveda or Medicines. The day before Dhanteras is celebrated as Vagh Baras or Govatsa Dwadashi in Gujarat and Maharashtra. On this day cows and calves are worshipped and fed with products made of wheat. This ritual of cow worship during Deepwali is observed in many parts of India by different names. The day after Dhanteras is called Kali Chaudas, Narak Chaturdashi or Bhoot Chaturdashi in many parts of the country.

How To Prepare For Dhantrayodashi or Dhanteras?

Deepawali is associated with many things for Hindus. In different regions, the festival is celebrated in different ways, but a few common things are cleaning and decluttering of the house and offices, many people colour them too. Cleaning is considered ‌a part of the Deepawali ritual. It is a month-long preparation. Hindus look forward to this time of the year with great enthusiasm. After cleaning and colouring the house, people decorate it and buy new items for kitchen and household use. In many parts of India, buying a broom is considered very auspicious as it is believed that a broom is a symbol of cleanliness and helps ward off negative energies from the house. Hindus also buy diyas, candles, paint, flowers and myriad other things. At the entrances of the houses, Hindus also draw rangoli and stick stickers resembling Maa Lakshmi’s small feet, hoping that the Goddess of wealth will enter their households.

The Story Behind Dhantrayodashi Festival

There are many stories associated with Dhanteras apart from coming out of Maa Lakshmi, Lord Kuber and Lord Dhanvantari on the day of Dhanteras. There is a story of a king called Hima. He had a son and there was a prediction that he would die of a snake bite just four days after his marriage. So, King Hima did everything within his power to stop his son from meeting any woman. But after his son turned 16, he met a girl and fell in love, and married her.

When his newly wedded wife came to know that her husband would die after four days, she stopped him from sleeping on the day and blocked the entrance to her husband’s room with silver and gold ornaments. When Lord Yama came in the guise of a snake, he could not bear the gleam of the gold and silver and was dazzled by them. He then sat down on the heap. The next day, the snake quietly left, and her husband was saved.

Another story associated with Dhanteras is discussed above in which on the day of Dhanteras, Dhanvantari, an incarnation of Shri Hari Vishnu, the physician of the Gods or the God of Ayurveda and Medicines came out of the ocean after the event of Samudra Manthan, the churning of the ocean by the Gods and Demons. On the same day, Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Kuber emerged from the ocean with abundant ‌treasures. Dhanvantari emerged from the ocean with a vessel of nectar and a book on Ayurveda.

On this day, apart from Maa Lakshmi puja, people also worship Maa Tulsi in the evening and light Akashdeep in the sky. So, there are numerous reasons that Dhanatrayodashi is considered a very auspicious day and one of the major festivals of Sanatan Hindus.

How To Celebrate Dhanteras Festival?

On the day of Dhanatrayodash, Sanatan Hindus buy gold, silver, jewellery and new utensils as it is believed buying these things on this day brings good luck. It is believed that on this day, Maa Lakshmi showers households with wealth. Devotees worship, Bhagwan Ganesha, Lord Kuber and Goddess Lakshmi in the evening of Dhanteras. 

How to Perform Dhanteras Puja Vidhi?

The very first thing that you must do is, bathe the idol of Ganesh ji and apply sandalwood paste on him. Then offer him a red cloth and flowers and chant a mantra to worship Ganesha is also chanted:

वक्रतुण्ड महाकाय सूर्यकोटि समप्रभ ।

निर्विघ्नं कुरु मे देव सर्वकार्येषु सर्वदा ॥

Offer fruits, flowers, sweets and Diya to Lord Kuber. To worship Lord Kuber, chant the following Mantra:

ओम यक्षाय कुबेराय वैश्रवणाय धनधान्यपदये ।

धना-धनाय समुद्भूतं मे देहि दापय स्वाहा ॥

Perform Kalashsthaapna. Take a raised platform and cover it with ‌red cloth, put a Kalash filled with water and Gangajal along with some betel nuts, flowers, coins and grains of rice. Then place an idol of Maa Lakshmi on the grains of rice. Businessmen also put their books of account (Bahi Khata) near the idol of the Goddess Lakshmi. Then offer turmeric, vermillion, flowers and a diya to the goddess. 

You can chant the following mantra to worship Maa Lakshmi:

ओम श्रीं ह्रीं श्रीं श्रीं कमले कमलालये प्रसीद प्रसीद ओम श्रीं ह्रीं श्रीं महालक्ष्म्यै नमः॥ 

Many devotees observe fast all day and break their fast only after doing Lakshmi puja in the evening. To perform Lakshmi Puja with all the accurate Vedic rituals, you can consult a learned pandit with extensive knowledge of pooja processes. If you need any further consultation on Dhanteras Puja, you can consult our expert pandits to help you perform a personalized Lakshmi Puja to appease the Goddess of wealth and prosperity.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why is there a tradition of gifting on Dhanteras and Deepwali?

A: Gifting is one of the traditions that Hindus follow during Dhanteras. It can be anything from sweets, fruits, and decoratives to any item of puja, household or personal usage. Festivals are the ‌ideal time when families gather and share a good time. This is also the time to exchange sweets and gifts with each other. It is believed gifts bring good wishes and positive vibes along with good fortune.