Dhanteras 2021: Date, Puja Timings, History and Importance

Dhanteras or Dhantrayodashi is an auspicious festival celebrated as the beginning of Diwali with the purpose of worshipping Goddess Laxmi. This year Dhanteras will be observed across the country on Tuesday 2 November. According to the Hindu Calendar, Dhanteras is celebrated in the month of Kartik on the 13th lunar day also known as Trayodashi of Krishna Paksha.

The day is celebrated with the belief that worshiping Goddess Laxmi and Lord Ganesha on the evening of that particular day will bring blessing for the family with happiness and prosperity.

DHANTERA SHUBH MUHURAT/ DHASTERAS TIMINGS:

• Evening 05:05 PM to 05:29 PM- Godhuli Muhurat

• Evening 05:35 PM to 08:14 PM- Pradosh Kaal

• Morning 11:42 AM to Evening 12:26 PM- Abhijeet Muhurat

• Evening 06:18 PM to 08:11 PM- Dhanteras Muhurat

• Morning 11:31 AM to 09:03 AM in the morning of November 3- Trayodashi Tithi

IMPORTANCE OF DHANTERAS:

The festival Dhanteras marks the starting of Diwali and is usually celebrated one or two days before Diwali. The word Dhanteras is the combination of two words 'Dhan' and 'Teras', 'Dhan' means wealth or money and 'Teras' means thirteen. It is highly believed among the Hindi religion that on this day of Dhanteras purchasing anything at a huge price or buying jewelry and utensils will bring wealth, good luck, and prosperity to the family. People often purchase Idols to worship during Diwali. To follow the ritual one can even purchase a small plate, spoon, or anything that can be added to the home and can be worshipped.

On Dhanteras people light up Diyas at their houses with the hope that it will bring peace and good luck to the family and loved ones. The ritual of lighting up Diyas and candles surrounding the houses is known as Yama Dipam and it is widely believed that the process keeps God of death called Lord Yama far from the family. Generally, it suggests keeping away the bad luck that can harm the people living at the house. Varieties of sweets such as Kheer, Lados, and Burfis are prepared on the day and served to family and relatives as Prasad. The Maharashtrians make a special sweet as prasad by pounding coriander seeds and Dhane with Jaggery.

HISTORY:

The interesting history behind Dhanteras is the prediction by horoscope about a king's son that he will die on the 4th day of his marriage by getting bitten by a snake. But his wife thought of changing the fate therefore she didn't allow her husband to sleep for the whole night so that the snake couldn't bite him. The snake is believed to be the God of death, Lord Yamraja who gets blinded by the coins and jewelry kept by the wife at the entrance of the room. So he couldn't enter the king's room and left in the morning baring the prince life

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