Added pace in life, waving happiness, zeal of brightness and promising festivity is adding multi flavor in routine life. All preparations, sweat and hopes will take rest from today when five day festivity of Diwali will begin with first day as Dhanteras, also known as ‘Dhantrayodashi’ or ‘Dhanwantari Triodashi’.

As the name suggests ‘Dhan’ stands for money and ‘Teras’ for 13th lunar day of Krishna Paksha in the Hindu month of Kartik which may fall in October or November. This year in 2010 it is on 3rd November which will be celebrated by worshipping Goddess Lakshmi.

A month long preparations take halt this day and time is spent in decorating entrances of homes and offices. Every corner of the house is cleaned and decorated, beautiful and colorful rangolis of various patterns are drawn on the entrance of the house to welcome Goddess Lakshmi.

This day is considered auspicious to buy gold, silver, utensils and automobiles. In spite of the ever increasing price of gold and silver, the markets are packed with customers buying gold jewelry and silver coins and utensils.

Puja is performed and clay diyas are lighted to welcome Goddess Lakshmi and to drive away the evil spirits.

Legend:

A very interesting story behind this festival is that of sixteen year old son of king Hima. It was predicted that he is doomed to die on the fourth day of his marriage. On that particular fourth day of his marriage his young wife didn’t allow him to sleep. She laid all her gold and silver ornaments on the entrance of the sleeping chambers and lit innumerable lights all over the place. Then she started narrating stories and songs in order to keep him awake. The God of death, ‘Yama’ came in disguise as a serpent. He got completely blinded by the dazzle of the brilliant lights of the lamps and jewelry and sat on the heap of coins and jewelry lost in her stories and songs. In the morning Yama went away quietly.

Thus the young wife was successful in saving the life of her husband. And this day came to be celebrated as ‘Dhanteras’.

The famous legend of ‘Samudramanthan’(churning of the ocean) is associated with this day. According to the story, when the sea is churned ‘Amrit’ will come out and the Gods needed to drink it in order to become immortal and defeat the demons. The gods and demons continued to churn the ocean, then came out the divine power, with heavenly looks, sitting on a lotus that was Goddess Lakshmi. They continued churning for Amrit or Nector. Finally, Dhanvantri (physician of Gods and incarnation of Vishnu) emerged carrying a jar of elixir or ambrosia.

Udaipur also seems to be completely engrossed in the Dhanteras celebrations. Markets are all decorated and illuminated with lights and lamps. House and offices are also cleaned and enlighten with beautiful and colorful lights. As it also customary to buy metals on this day, People are all out shopping in the streets of Udaipur for vehicles, jewelry, utensils etc. After all shopping is the main attraction of any festivity.

Light up Diyas on Dhanteras and light up your life. Let’s have a Happy Diwali and Happy Dhanteras.