DHANTERAS
Falls On: The 13th Day Of The Kartik Month (October - November)
Deity Worshipped: Lord Yama
Also Known As: Yamadeepdaan
The festival of Diwali is celebrated with gaiety and
enthusiasm for a period of five days and each day has its significance
with numerous myths, legends and beliefs. The first day is called
Dhanteras or Dhantrayodashi, which falls on the thirteenth day of the
month of Ashwin, two days before Diwali. The word 'Dhan' means wealth. On
this people worship Lord Yama to provide prosperity and well being.
Legends
Legend has it that once Lord Vishnu was going south and specifically
asked Goddess Lakshmi not to follow him but self willed as she was, she
didn't pay any heed and the Lord decided to punish her, banishing her for
13 years to a farmer's house from whose field she had eaten a stalk of
sugarcane. At the end of exile when the Lord came to fetch her, the farmer
refused to let her go. Eventually Lakshmi relents and instructs the farmer
clean his house and light a lamp of ghee and promises to come to his house
and fill it up with riches. It's a tradition in the northern part of India
to buy metal utensils on this day - perhaps to contain the riches?
According to another legend, at the time of Samudra Manthan when the Gods
and demons churned the ocean for Amrut or nectar, 'Dhanavantri' emerged
carrying a jar of the elixir. Since he's also the physician of God,
cleanliness and hygiene are essential to this festival.
An Interesting Tale
There is a very interesting story associated with this festival. Its
about the sixteen year old son of King Hima. As per his horoscope he was
doomed to die by a snake-bite on the fourth day of his marriage.
On that particular fourth day of his marriage his young wife did not
allow him to sleep. She laid all the ornaments and lots of gold and silver
coins in a big heap at the entrance of her husband's boudoir and lighted
innumerable lamps all over the place. And she went on telling stories and
singing songs.
When Yam, the God of Death arrived there in the guise of a Serpent his
eyes got blinded by that dazzle of those brilliant lights and he could not
enter the Prince's chamber. So he climbed on top of the heap of the
ornaments and coins and sat there whole night listening to the melodious
songs. In the morning he quietly went away.
Thus the young wife saved her husband from the clutches of death. Since
then this day of Dhanteras came to be known as the day of "Yamadeepdaan"
and lamps are kept burning throughout the night in reverential adoration
to Yam, the God of Death.
Rituals & Traditions
Earlier people use to buy to new utensils on the day of Dhanteras. This
tradition is still followed by the people. On this day people bath early
in the morning and observe fast, which is only broken after sunset with
sweetmeats, puri and other delicacies.
