Dhanteras

            Dhanteras

Dhanteras is a hindi / Sanskrit word which is a combination of two words dhan + teras which means dhan means wealth , money and teras means-13 th. That is dhanteras falls on the 13^th day of Krishna pakash or in the month of kartik ( October – November ) and it is the first day of 5 day long diwali festival.

It has special importance as it is believed that the godess of wealth Maa lakshmi would be showering her blessings on us if pray her on this with whole heart and will. And people buy New things, decorate their house and also inverst in property, Share market or gold. As it is believed that dhanteras would give manyfold of what we invested on that day and therefor it has special importance to the business community.  On this day lord Kuber is also worshipped.

Story Behind Dhanteras-

This is about a boy who was 16 and was  son of king Hima. One astrologer predicted king that his son would die on the 4^th day of his marriage. After his son got married the son’s wife was very clever and on the 4^th day of her marriage she didn’t allow her husband to fall asleep as she knew that in her  husband destiny 4^th day of marriage is his death day . so after consulting an astrologer she came to know one remedy . and she remover all her ornaments and made a heap of all the ornaments near to the gate . And when the snake came to bite her husband, the heap of the ornaments dazzled him and blinded the snake and after that snake reached on that heap and simultaneously she started singing sweet melodious songs and snake spent complete night in  listening to that music. In this way the lady with her cunningness and astrologer’s advice saved her husband’s life.

Another story is there.

This story is mentioned in  bhgvat puran and Vishnu puran .When Demons and devtas ( angels, gods ) were fighting to uphold their hand. They decided to churn the sea for the Amrit ( Nectar ) by holding tail ( Held by Demigod’s)and head ( by demons )of a snake and mount manderchana was used as the churning rod . So in the churning process dhanvantri appeared and therefore it is also called dhanterash

As this day falls just before diwali so it is also called choti  Diwali.

As this day is auspicious day people celebrate this with a great joy and happiness. And Tantrik / Astrologers wait for these days because they feel what ever they desiring they can get on this day and can fulfill their desires. So people also visits Astrologers and tantrik to fulfill there desires.

How to Perform Diwali Pooja.

First of all you need to collect all these material which is given below.

1.  Idol/ Picture of Maa Lakshmi and Ganesha.

2.  Kalash

3. Sweets

4.  Tilak

5. Cooked Rice

6. Accounting books (if you are business man, and Saraswati maata g Photo if you are a student )

7. 2 Sugarcane , White Carorts ( Mooli )

8. Moli

9- 10 to 12 Diyas

10. Gold or silver coin

11. And if you are a farmer then collect grains of food whatever you plant in your agriculture area

Once you have come to know the auspicious time of pooja by consulting astrologers or from the newspaper/ TV or Internet you can start the pooja preparation just before half an hour.

The pooja platform should be at some height and should be covered with brand new red cloth ( cloth should not be of silk ). And after that put Kalash filled with water on that platform and on the left hand of kalash godeess lakshmi g photo should be there and on the right hand side ganesha idol should be there.  And in that kalsh you have to put fresh flowers and Dhoob ( green grass ). And put all the sweets and other pooja item which are listed above on that platform or in 1 thali near to the kalash.

Once the best time for the pooja has come wash your hands and invite other people of family to join the pooja. Now enlight the depaks and most elder member of the family should recite Lakshmi G’s aarti

and others should also accomplish him. Once the aarti is over you have to tilak Maa lakshmia and ganesha and then on  the complete family members and offer some sweet to God .And after that distributes that parsad to your family members and relatives. And after that put all diwas in our house starting from the entrance.