Diwali Special 2017 : 2nd Day Dhanteras and Yama Deepam

Dhanteras” is derived from two Hindi words “dhan” & “teras”. Dhan means wealth &Teras means Thirteenth. Dhanteras is being observed on the thirteenth day of the Kartik month and celebrated as the second day of the Diwali in 2017.

Dhanteras is also referred as “Dhanvantari Trayodashi” or “Dhantrayodashi”.

Throughout India, Dhanteras is celebrated with great enthusiasm. On this day, Lord Kuber is also worshiped along with Goddess Lakshmi.

Auspicious Time 2017

In 2017, Dhanteras is being celebrated on Tuesday the 17th October. It falls on the auspicious thirteenth lunar day of Krishna Paksha in the Hindu month of Kartik.

• The Trayodashi Tithi is being observed from 00:26 on 17/Oct/2017 to 00:08 on 18/Oct/2017.
• It is said that Lakshmi Puja should be done in PradoshKaal which approximately is being observed for 0 hours and 40 minutes after the sunset. This year the PradoshKaal is from 18:00 to 20:27.
• Dhanteras Puja Muhurta = 19:47 to 20:27
• It is also believed that the Lakshmi pujan if done in sthirlagna (which means fixed lagna) of PradoshKaal, Goddess Laxmi will stay in your home forever.

Legends Behind Dhanteras

Once a sixteen-year-old son of King Hima was doomed to die by a snake-bite on the fourth day of his marriage as per the astrological predictions. 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 room and lighted innumerable lamps all over the place. Throughout the night she told stories and sang songs to her husband.

When Yama, the god of Death arrived there in the guise of a Snake his eyes got blinded by that dazzle of those brilliant lights and he could not enter the Kings 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 the following day of Dhanteras i.e. 14th day of the Kartik month, came to be known as the day of “Yamadeepdaan” and an earthen lamp is kept burning throughout the night of Chaturdashi glorifying Yama, the God of Death. The Yama Deep is also lit up on the day of Dhanteras as well.

Another legend states that on this day after the Samudra Manthan was done by the gods and demons, Goddess Dhanvantari came out of the sea holding the pot of Amrit. This is the reason Dhanteras is also called Dhanvantari Jayanti. It is believed that God gives his blessings of good health & wealth on this day, 13 times of the capacity of the pot/utensil purchased.

Rituals On Dhanteras / Puja Vidhi

Diwali a festival of lights, which starts with the auspicious day of Dhanteras. This is celebrated throughout the country with full faith and enthusiasm. READ MORE...