Dhanteras 2025, also known as Dhantrayodashi or Dhanvantari Trayodashi, is the first day of Diwali celebrations. Falling two days before Diwali, it is dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Dhanvantari. On this day, families perform Lakshmi Puja, light Yamadeepdaan lamps, and buy gold, silver, or new utensils as symbols of prosperity. The festival marks the beginning of wealth, health, and good fortune in Hindu tradition.
Dhanteras festival also known as 'Dhantrayodashi' or 'Dhanvantari Triodasi' is the first day of Diwali celebrations. Falling two days before Diwali, it is dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Dhanvantari. On this festival Goddess Laxmi is worshiped to bestow her devotees with good fortune and success in life. On the special event of Dhanteras, articles made of Gold or Silver or even a new utensil are purchased as a sign of good luck.
On this day, families perform Lakshmi Puja, light Yamadeepdaan lamps, and buy gold, silver, or new utensils as symbols of prosperity. The festival marks the beginning of wealth, health, and good fortune in Hindu tradition.
The word Dhanteras combines “Dhan” (wealth) and “Teras” (thirteenth). In 2025, Dhanteras falls on Saturday / शनिवार, October 18, the thirteenth lunar day (Trayodashi) of Krishna Paksha in the Hindu month of Kartik. The festival always occurs two days before Diwali, marking the beginning of the five-day celebrations. On this auspicious day, devotees honor Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Dhanvantari, while purchasing gold, silver, or utensils to invite prosperity into their homes.
On this day, homes and offices or the places of business are renovated and decorated. Entrances are made colourful with beautiful traditional designs of Rangoli to welcome the Goddess of wealth and prosperity.
Dhanteras celebrations combine devotion, decoration, and symbolic purchases that mark the start of Diwali. Families, businesses, and communities observe these rituals:
✔️Home & Business Preparation – Houses and shops are cleaned, renovated, and decorated with colorful rangoli at the entrance. Small footprints made with rice flour and vermilion symbolize the arrival of Goddess Lakshmi.
✔️Lighting Diyas – Clay lamps (diyas) are lit at night to ward off negative energies and welcome prosperity. Many families also keep a special lamp burning all night, connected to the Yamadeepdaan tradition.
✔️Auspicious Purchases – Buying gold, silver, coins, utensils, vehicles, or even property on Dhanteras is believed to bring long-term prosperity. It is also a common day to finalize wedding dates.
✔️Lakshmi Puja – In the evening, devotees perform Lakshmi Puja with bhajans (devotional songs) and offer Naivedya (sweets) to the Goddess.
✔️Village Traditions – In rural India, cows and cattle are decorated and worshipped as they are seen as symbols of wealth and livelihoods.
Together, these customs highlight Dhanteras as both a spiritual and cultural celebration, blending prosperity with devotion.
Several fascinating legends explain why Dhanteras is celebrated. The most popular ones are:
✔️According to Hindu tales, King Hima’s 16-year-old son was fated to die from a snake bite on the fourth day after his marriage.
✔️His wife, determined to save him, placed her ornaments and gold coins at the entrance and lit rows of lamps (diyas). She kept him awake all night with stories and songs.
✔️When Lord Yama (God of Death) arrived in the form of a serpent, the dazzling glow of the diyas and jewelry blinded him, preventing him from entering.
✔️This miracle gave rise to the ritual of Yamadeepdaan—lighting lamps on Dhanteras night to ward off untimely death and bring longevity.
Dhanalakshmi Seated on a Lotus Wall Hanging with Frame
According to this story, when the gods and demons churned the ocean for Amrut or nectar, Dhanavantri, the physician of the gods and an incarnation of Vishnu emerged carrying a jar of the elixir (Amrit).
✔️During the Samudra Manthan (Churning of the Ocean), the cosmic churning of the ocean, several divine treasures emerged.
✔️On this auspicious day, Goddess Lakshmi, symbol of wealth, and Lord Dhanvantari, the divine physician, appeared.
✔️Lord Dhanvantari carried a pot of Amrit (nectar), signifying health and immortality.
✔️For this reason, Dhanteras is also observed as Dhanvantari Jayanti, honoring Ayurveda and the importance of good health.
Legends have it that Lord Dhanvantari who is the physician of the Gods and an incarnation of LordVishnu came out of the ocean that was churned by the Gods and the demons on the day of dhanteras. Lord Dhanvantari appeared with Ayurvedic for the welfare of the mankind.
Another interesting story famous about dhanteras is related to the son of King Hima and his intelligent wife. It was predicted about him that he would die on the fourth day of his marriage. And the reason behind his death would be snakebite.
When his wife came to know about such a prediction, she decided not to let her husband die and for this she made a plan. On the fourth day of their marriage, she collected all the jewellery and wealth at the entrance of her husband's boudoir and lighted lamps all around the place.
And she started telling stories and singing songs one after another in order to not let her husband sleep. In the mid night Lord Yama, the God of death arrived there in guise of a snake. The bright lights of the lamps lit by the wife of the king's son blinded His eyes and he could not enter their chamber.
Therefore, Lord Yama found a place to make himself comfortable on top of the heap of the jewellery and wealth and kept sitting there for the whole night waiting to get a chance to bite the king's son. But as the wife of the king's son kept telling stories and singing songs for the whole night therefore, he could not get any chance and in the morning, he left the place quietly.
Thus, the wife saved her husband's life from the cruel clutches of death. Since then, the day of dhanteras is also known as the day of 'Yamadeepdaan' and it has become a tradition to light a diya on dhanteras and to keep it burning throughout the night in reverential adoration of Lord Yama, the God of death.
Dhanteras is celebrated not just for wealth, but also for health, prosperity, and protection. Its significance includes:
✔️Worship of Lord Yamaraj – Lighting the Yama-Diya symbolizes protection from untimely death and invites longevity and well-being.
✔️Wealth and Prosperity – Buying gold, silver, coins, or utensils on this day is considered auspicious, promoting financial growth and abundance in households and businesses.
✔️Health & Ayurveda – The festival coincides with Dhanvantari Jayanti, honoring Lord Dhanvantari, the god of Ayurveda. Since 2016, National Ayurveda Day is observed on Dhanteras to promote health and traditional medicine.
✔️Rural Traditions – Farmers worship cattle, their primary source of livelihood, highlighting the connection between prosperity and agriculture.
✔️Regional Customs – In Maharashtra, for example, coriander seeds lightly pounded with jaggery are offered as Naivedya to deities, blending spiritual devotion with local tradition.
✔️Business Importance – Merchants and traders begin new accounts and purchases on Dhanteras, marking it as an auspicious day for commerce.
Overall, Dhanteras merges spiritual devotion, financial prosperity, health, and cultural customs, making it a multifaceted celebration at the start of Diwali.
Dhanteras is celebrated across India with unique regional customs that reflect local culture and traditions:
✔️Maharashtra: Families lightly pound coriander seeds with jaggery and offer as Naivedya during Lakshmi Puja. This ritual symbolizes prosperity and the sweetness of life.
✔️Rajasthan & Gujarat: Traders and shopkeepers inaugurate new account books and decorate their shops with colorful rangoli and lamps. Gold and silver are purchased as a symbol of luck.
✔️North India (Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Bihar): Homes are cleaned and decorated, diyas are lit, and Lakshmi Puja is performed with traditional sweets offered as Naivedya.
✔️South India (Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh): People perform Ayudha Puja, worship tools, utensils, and vehicles, in addition to the Lakshmi Puja.
✔️Rural Communities: Farmers worship cattle, considered symbols of wealth and livelihood, decorating them with turmeric, vermilion, and flowers.
These regional variations highlight how Dhanteras blends spiritual devotion, local customs, and prosperity rituals, creating a vibrant and diverse celebration across India.
Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy decided to observe Dhanteras as the National Ayurveda Day. The first National Ayurveda Day was celebrated on 28th October, 2016.
🔸First Day of Diwali – Dhanteras marks the start of five-day Diwali celebrations, observed two days before the main festival.
🔸Symbol of Wealth & Prosperity – Buying gold, silver, coins, or utensils is considered auspicious for financial growth and abundance.
🔸Lakshmi Puja & Yamadeepdaan – Homes and workplaces are decorated, diyas are lit, and Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped for fortune and well-being.
🔸Cultural & Rural Traditions – In villages, cattle are adorned and worshipped as symbols of livelihood and prosperity.
🔸Health & Ayurveda – Dhanteras coincides with Dhanvantari Jayanti, honoring Lord Dhanvantari and Ayurveda; celebrated as National Ayurveda Day in India.
🔸Legends & Stories – The festival is linked to the tale of King Hima and Lord Yama, as well as the Samudra Manthan, symbolizing protection from death and the arrival of divine blessings.
🔸Regional Diversity – Customs vary across India, from Naivedya offerings in Maharashtra to Ayudha Puja in South India, reflecting local culture and devotion.
Dhanteras is the first day of Diwali celebrations, dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Dhanvantari. It is celebrated for wealth, health, and prosperity.
In 2025, Dhanteras falls on Saturday / शनिवार, October 18, the 13th lunar day (Trayodashi) of Krishna Paksha in the Hindu month of Kartik.
Key rituals include Lakshmi Puja, lighting diyas, purchasing gold or silver, decorating homes with rangoli, and keeping Yamadeepdaan lamps burning all night.
King Hima’s son was fated to die by snakebite. His wife’s clever use of lamps and jewelry prevented Lord Yama from harming him, inspiring the Yamadeepdaan tradition.
Dhanteras coincides with Dhanvantari Jayanti, honoring Lord Dhanvantari, the god of Ayurveda, who emerged from the Samudra Manthan carrying the nectar of immortality.
In Maharashtra, coriander seeds with jaggery are offered as Naivedya. South India observes Ayudha Puja, while rural areas worship cattle for prosperity.
Yes, purchasing precious metals on Dhanteras is considered auspicious and symbolizes wealth, prosperity, and good fortune for the coming year.
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