Dhanteras Puja – Worshiping Wealth to Show Love and Respect Towards It

It’s rare to see a culture embracing the worth of money or wealth, and literally worshiping it. This festival celebrated in the Northern part of India with a huge significance, marks the beginning of a substantial and important festival, Diwali.

Knowing the Dhanteras Day, Mark of Diwali

On Dhanteras, Goddess of wealth and prosperity-Mahalaxmi is worshiped for well-being, success and growth. Dhanteras is also known as Dhanatrayodashi. Dhanteras is a Hindi word which is a combination of two words, dhan which means wealth and money, and teras which is the thirteenth day of the Hindu month Kartika. This festival brings optimism and delight in people’s lives.

Story Behind Dhanteras

There are certain myths and prevalent ancient stories behind the celebration of Dhanteras. It is believed that there lived a sixteen year old son of the king Hima, whose horoscope predicted death by snake bite on the fourth day of his marriage. His wife lit lamps all around his sleeping area and heaped all her gold and silver ornaments at the door of the room, and kept singing the hymns and bhajanas the whole night. This prevented the Yama, the God of Death, to enter his room and even he listened to the bhajanas sitting on the heap of gold, and silently went back in the morning. Since then, wealth is worshipped on this day.

Significance of Dhanteras Puja

Dhanteras Puja holds the very significant place in one’s life. People purchase gold, utensils, silver in order to make Goddess Laxmi to arrive at their home. From this day people starts purchasing crackers, diyas, idols of Lord Ganesha and Goddess Laxmi, khilonas etc. Interestingly, if a girl born on this day she is considered to be the arrival of goddess laxmi in the house and when the girl gets married and goes to her husband’s home, she leaves the footprint in the house to ensure that Goddess Laxmi does not leave the house.

Procedure of Dhanteras Puja i.e. Dhanteras Puja Vidhi

1. A deepak or diya (lamp) made of flour dough is arranged on a slightly raised platform i.e. Chowki with decorations.
2. Place four cotton wicks in it and light the lamp facing four directions with oil or ghee as per the family custom
3. The main purpose of lighting the lamp is to please Lord Yama, the god of death. It is believed that this worship also pleases the departed ancestor souls of the family.
4. A panchapatra is filled with water. The water from it is sprinkled around the lamp. During the puja to the lamp, flowers, rice and coins are offered along with chanting of mantras.
5. To each of the wicks of the lamp, four sweets are offered.
6. Following this, the incense sticks are lit and waved in front of the lamp. Women of the home go around the lamp four times and pay their respect. Either the eldest married member of the family or an unmarried girl mix some rice, turmeric powder and vermilion to make a paste. This is applied by them to the foreheads of the women in the family.
7. The lamp is then lifted by a male member of the family and placed to the right of the main entrance.
8. The female members then sit for the puja and worship Ganesh and Lakshmi.
9. At the conclusion of the puja, camphor is waved in front of the idols and prasad is distributed.

Dhanteras Puja Muhurat

Amrit, Shubh, Labh & Char are the good muhurats while Rog, Kaal & Udveg are the bad ones.

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