Story of Dhanteras – Legends, Meaning & Traditions

Giving your all to festivals or welcoming goodness, harmony, and happiness is one way to celebrate life.

Out of all the rituals and customs, Dhanteras, also known as Dhantrayodashi or Dhanvantari Trayodashi, marks the auspicious beginning of the Diwali celebrations. This sacred day falls on the thirteenth lunar day (Trayodashi) of the dark fortnight in the Hindu month of Kartik, usually two days before Diwali.

The name Dhanteras combines “Dhan” (wealth) and “Teras” (thirteenth), symbolizing the invitation of prosperity into homes and hearts.

Why is Dhanteras Celebrated?

Several engaging legends explain the origins and significance of Dhanteras:

1. Legend of the Clever Queen:

A king learned that his 16-year-old son’s horoscope predicted his death from a snakebite on the fourth day after his marriage. On that fateful night, the prince’s wife placed heaps of gold coins and ornaments at their entrance and lit numerous lamps. She kept him awake with songs and stories all night. When Yama, the god of death, arrived disguised as a serpent, the brilliant lights and ornaments blinded him. Entranced, he perched atop the treasure to listen to the queen’s tales, delaying his sinister plan. By dawn he quietly departed, saving the prince’s life.

2. Festival of Prosperity and Healing:

Dhanteras also honors Goddess Lakshmi, who is said to have emerged from the ocean of milk during the cosmic churning (Samudra Manthan), and Lord Dhanvantari, the divine physician and guardian of Ayurveda, who appeared holding the elixir of immortality (Amrit). Together, they symbolize both wealth and well-being—core themes of the festival.

Customs & Symbolism

• Purchasing Precious Goods: On Dhanteras, buying gold, silver, or new utensils is a widely embraced belief—thought to invite abundance into the home.
• Yamadeepdaan: Lighting clay lamps at the doorway is a popular tradition, intended to ward off misfortune and ushers in safety.
• Welcoming Lakshmi: Homes are cleaned and decorated, and in many places, they draw the footprints of Lakshmi to invite her blessings.

Dhanteras beautifully weaves myths of survival, health, and affluence. It’s both a tribute to divine guardians and a time to renew hope and wealth in everyday life.