The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Dhanteras to usher in prosperity, well-being

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Nov 07, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Dhanteras to usher in prosperity, well-being

Photo: K.R. Deepak

Bedazzled: Women shopping at Sanghvi Jewellery Mall in Visakhapatnam. —

An air of festivity pervaded the city and its neighbourhood as the people went on a buying-spree to celebrate Dhanteras on Wednesday – marking the beginning the five-day Diwali – the festival of lights.

On Dhanteras day, people mainly belonging to business families from the Western India as well as other parts, worship Goddess Laxmi with bhajans and keertans by tastefully illuminating their houses and business premises throughout the evening. They w elcome the Goddess with tiny diyas made of clay by lighting them to drive away evil spirits and to seek prosperity. Dhanteras has its origin from Hindi word `dhan’ meaning wealth. So Dhantera is considered an auspicious day for achieving eternal good. Dhanteras, known as Dhantrayodashi or Dhanwantari, ushers in Diwali. It falls on the 13th day lunar day of Krishna Paksha in Ashwin month.

“This is a most important day for business people as everyone offers special prayers to Goddess Laxmi for prosperity and well-being and to keep evil spirits at bay,” says Rashmi Seth, a native of Uttar Pradesh, who is settled in Visakhapatnam for past one and half decade. The day is celebrated with gusto and enthusiasm. People wear new clothes and in rural areas, the farmers worship cattle with diyas for good harvest. According to popular legend, 16-year-old son of King Hima was destined to die of snakebite on the fourth day of his marriage as per his horoscope. His young intelligent wife kept him awake throughout the night by telling him interesting stories and singing devotional songs. She had also illuminated the entire house and put all her gold and silver ornaments and coins in a heap at the entrance of their house. The young bride had also brightened up the evening by lighting innumerable lamps all-over. Yama, the God of death, came to the house in the guise of a snake and soon he was blinded by the dazzling and spark that emanated from the house and got himself totally engrossed in listening to the melodious songs and mesmerising tales. In the process, the night passed away and Dhanteras came to be known as Yama Deepam. According to another legend, Gods and demons churned ocean of Nectar and Dhanvantari, the divine physician, believed to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, emerged carrying a jar of ayurvedic miracle medicine for welfare of the mankind.

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