Dhanteras 2024: Know History, Significance, And Rituals Across The Country

Dhanteras marks the beginning of the five-day celebration of Diwali, falling on the thirteenth day of the Krishna Paksha in Ashwin month, this year on October 29. 

On this day, people welcome wealth and prosperity and worship Goddess Lakshmi. They buy and gift metal items such as gold and silver and electronic items to loved ones.

So, let’s learn about the history, significance, and rituals of this Indian festival.

Mythology related to Dhanteras:

According to Hindu mythology, on this day goddess Lakshmi emerged from the ‘Samundra Manthan’ with a vessel filled with gold in her hand. Here, gold symbolizes wealth, prosperity, and happiness.

Another story is about King Hima’s son who was foretold to die on the 3rd day of his marriage. So, on that day, his wife gathered her all gold jewellery and used them to light the doorways to deceive Yama finding her husband in the brightness.

Significance of Dhanteras:

Dedicated to the wealth deity, Goddess Lakshmi, this day is all about wealth, buying gold and silver items, electronic products, etc, to appease the deity and bring good fortune and prosperity home.

People clean their homes and decorate with diyas, candles, and rangolis, to celebrate the day while embracing spirituality and gifting loved ones.

How Dhanteras celebrated: People light diyas, make rangolis, buy gold and silver jewellery, vehicles, cooking items, etc., while gifting their loved ones.

Dhanteras rituals across the country:

In Gujarat and Maharashtra, people hold fairs where they relish the day with music and dance. Businessmen start new accounting books while rangolis grace the front of the home.

Similarly in Bengal and Odisha people exchange sweets and gifts and buy new items to celebrate the occasion.

In Madhya Pradesh, certain local rituals and traditions are followed to bring wealth and health to the family.