Diwali 2023: Besides buying gold & silver, here's what you can do on Dhanteras

The festivities of Diwali 2023 are set to commence shortly, starting with Dhanteras, also known as Dhantrayodashi and Dhanvantari Trayodashi. This auspicious day marks the beginning of Diwali celebrations and is traditionally observed for making fresh starts, acquiring gold, silver, new utensils, and other household essentials.

Dhanteras falls on the Trayodashi, the 13th lunar day of Krishna Paksha in the Hindu calendar month of Ashvin or Kartika. On this day, Goddess Laxmi and Lord Kubera, the God of wealth, are venerated.

Dhanteras also serves as Dhanvantari Jayanti, commemorating the birth of the God of Ayurveda. According to belief, Lord Dhanvantari, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, emerged from the churning of the milk ocean, holding a pot brimming with amrita (the nectar of immortality) in one hand and Ayurveda in the other. He is revered as the Hindu deity of health, healing, and Ayurvedic medicine, entrusted with disseminating the knowledge of Ayurveda worldwide.

It is believed that on the auspicious day of Dhanteras or Dhantrayodashi, Goddess Lakshmi arose from the ocean during the Sagar Manthan (churning of the milky sea) alongside Lord Kubera, the God of wealth. This accounts for the reverence of both deities on Trayodashi. Notably, Lord Dhanvantari was the final entity to emerge during the Sagar Manthan, when the Devas and Asuras tirelessly churned the sea, ultimately extracting the nectar of immortality, known as Amrit.

According to Vedic astrologer Bani Singh Chadha, besides buying gold & silver, it is advised to illuminate 13 sesame oil lamps outside your residence, facing south, on Dhanteras. This ritual is believed to promote the health and longevity of each family member.

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