Dhanteras is the first day of the five-day Diwali Festival as celebrated primarily in Northern
& Western part of India. The festival is also known as Dhanatrayodashi or Dhanvantari Trayodashi. The word ‘Dhana’ means wealth and Trayodashi means 13th day as per Hindu calendar.
It is celebrated on the thirteenth lunar day of Krishna Paksha (dark fortnight)
in the Hindu
calendar month of Ashwayuja.
On Dhanteras, Goddess Lakshmi is worshiped
to provide prosperity and well being. Dhanteras
holds special significance for the business community due to the customary
purchases of precious metals on this day. Lord Kubera, the God of assets and
wealth is also worshiped on this day.
The
tradition of gambling on Diwali also has a legend behind it. It is believed
that on this day, Goddess Parvati played dice with her husband Lord
Shiva, and she decreed that
whosoever gambled on Diwali night would prosper throughout the ensuing year. Diwali
is associated with wealth and prosperity in many ways, and the festival of 'Dhanteras' ('dhan' = wealth; 'teras' = 13th) is
celebrated two days before the festival of lights.
@bhawanasomaaya
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