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Friday, October 21, 2011

Dhanteras 24 th of October. 2011

Our country is famous for its culture coated with festivals, Can October be far behind?The northern part of India celebrates Diwali in a grand manner , and it's a 5 day festival.

Dhanteras is one such festival. This festival, a must for business community,is also known as Dhantrayodashi or Dhanwantari Triodasi, which falls on the auspicious thirteenth lunar day of Krishna Paksha in the Hindu month of Kartik (October/November).
In the word Dhanteras, "Dhan" stands for wealth." Teras "means 13 as this is celebrated on the 13th lunar day of Krishna paksha . On Dhanteras Goddess Laxmi is worshiped to provide prosperity and well being.

Dhanteras falls on Monday, the 24th of October. It is the first day of the five-day Diwali Festival and is celebrated in parts of north India with enthusiasm, devotion and in full faith.

As per the legend the story goes like this:
King Hima's sixteen year old son was destined to die of a snake-bite on the fourth day of his marriage as per his horoscope. To combat this adversity, the newly married bride piled all her gold ornaments and lots of silver coins in a big heap at the entrance of her husband's room and lighted innumerable lamps all over the place. She made sure that he did not fall asleep, so she engaged him by singing songs, narrating stories.

Lord Yama came in the guise of a serpent to bite him, but the dazzling jewels blinded him and he could not fulfil his duty. He waited impatiently ,with no results. The next day arrived by the break of dawn, and Hima's son was saved from the jaws 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 Yama, the god of Death.

According to another popular legend, when the gods and demons churned the ocean for Amrit or nectar, Dhanavantri (the physician of the gods and an incarnation of Vishnu) emerged carrying a jar of the elixir on the day of Dhanteras.

                                                   
On this day people clean, and decorate their house entrances with colorful rangolis welcoming the Goddess of Wealth and Prosperity. Lamps burn all through the nights.

It is believed that new “Dhan” or some form of precious metal is a sign of good luck,so people consider it auspicious to purchase gold, silver or utensils on this day.

"Laxmi-Puja" is performed during Subh Muhurat, preferably in the evenings with the gold ,silver ornaments kept in the pooja along with new currencies of any denomination and countries.

The ornaments can be placed on a silver plate or basin/cup/ and all the gold ,silver coins, ornaments placed inside and the currencies can be spread across the plate and puja is performed for them as well for Goddess Lakshmi. Thirteen diyas of clay are lighted to drive away the shadows of evil spirits.

"Naivedya" of traditional white sweets or Milk kheer is offered to the Goddess.One can chant Lakshmi Sahasranama, Lakshmi Astothra or sing Bhajans.

Dhanteras Puja Muhurat 24th October 2011, Monday
As per one's convenience the pooja can be performed at the given timings.

6.50 am to 8 am

9.35 am to 10.50 am
1.50 pm to 7.40 pm
10.50 pm to 12 am .

Please note that the time is based on Indian Standard Time. 
                                                

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