This year it falls on Tuesday, October 29.
On this day, people worship Lord Dhanvantari, Goddess Lakshmi and the deity of wealth, Kubera.
A highly auspicious and significant Hindu festival, Dhanteras is celebrated on the 13th lunar day of Krishna Paksha in Ashwin, one of the months of the Hindu calendar. This year it falls on Tuesday, October 29. The name ‘Dhanteras,’ is known to be a combination of two Sanskrit words, meaning ‘Dhan,’ or wealth and ‘Teras,’ suggesting the 13th day. On this day, people worship Lord Dhanvantari, Goddess Lakshmi and the deity of wealth, Kubera. This worship is said to bring good health and energy to the worshipper, as well as prosperity. It is considered especially auspicious to make purchases on Dhanteras, but these should be done during favourable times. An astrologer suggests auspicious timings for shopping on Dhanteras.
Popular astrologer Pandit Nandkishore Mudgal from Deoghar, in a conversation with Local 18, mentioned that the festival of Dhanteras is observed every year on the thirteenth day (Trayodashi) of the Krishna Paksha in the month of Kartik. It is extremely auspicious to make some purchases on this day, as it is believed to please Goddess Lakshmi and increase wealth thirteenfold. It is important to make these purchases during the auspicious times.
Pandit Nandkishore Mudgal explains that according to the Rishikesh Panchang, there are three auspicious timings on Dhanteras to buy gold, silver, jewellery, utensils, real estate, etc.
• The first auspicious time is from 7:50 AM to 10:00 AM, which is during the Scorpio Ascendant. This time is considered stable and highly auspicious.
• The second auspicious time falls during the Aquarius Ascendant, which is also stable and auspicious, from 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM.
• The third and best auspicious time is during the Pradosh Kaal, from 6:36 PM to 8:32 PM. Shopping during any of these times is considered highly beneficial.
Dhanteras has great historical, mythological and cultural importance. It is known to be significant and celebrated for three main reasons associated with the mythology.
The first reason is on this particular day, Goddess Lakshmi came out from the Kshira Sagar, carrying a vessel full of gold and accompanied by Lord Kuber, the god of wealth. Both deities are honoured during the festival.
