Dhanteras festival marks the auspicious beginning of India’s grand festival of lights — Diwali. It is a day that glows with divine energy, financial hope, and heartfelt devotion. Symbolizing the perfect harmony between health and wealth, Dhanteras transcends the mere tradition of buying gold or silver — it celebrates abundance in all forms of life.
The term Dhanteras is derived from two Sanskrit words — Dhan (wealth) and Teras (the thirteenth lunar day). This sacred day honors Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity, Lord Dhanvantari, the divine physician, and Lord Kuber, the treasurer of the gods — all of whom symbolize prosperity, well-being, and eternal health.
In 2025, Dhanteras will be celebrated on Saturday, October 18, marking the start of the five-day-long Diwali celebration. Across India, devotees prepare their homes, hearts, and businesses to welcome abundance and positive energy into their lives.
Table of Contents
Dhanteras 2025: Date and Shubh Muhurat
Festival Name: Dhanteras (Dhantrayodashi)
- Date: Saturday, 18 October 2025
- Trayodashi Tithi Begins: October 17, 2025, at 02:35 PM
- Trayodashi Tithi Ends: October 18, 2025, at 12:49 PM
- Lakshmi Puja Muhurat: 06:50 PM to 08:25 PM (1 hour 35 minutes)
- Pradosh Kaal: 06:33 PM to 08:53 PM
- Vrishabha Kaal: 06:50 PM to 08:45 PM
According to Hindu tradition, the most auspicious time to perform Dhanteras Puja is during the Pradosh Kaal, when the energies of day and night balance perfectly. This is the sacred period when Goddess Lakshmi descends to Earth, bestowing her blessings on homes that are pure, bright, and welcoming.
Lighting lamps during this period symbolizes inviting divine light and driving away spiritual darkness.
The Meaning and Essence of Dhanteras
Dhanteras represents a profound spiritual message: true wealth lies in health, virtue, and gratitude. While many celebrate it as a day for material gain, its deeper essence teaches us to cultivate wholesome abundance — a life rich in kindness, wisdom, and health.
Three Forms of Prosperity Celebrated on Dhanteras:
- Dhan (Wealth) – The material and financial prosperity necessary for life’s stability.
- Aarogya (Health) – The strength and well-being that sustain all achievements.
- Dharma (Righteousness) – The moral prosperity that ensures blessings are used wisely.
It is this trinity that makes Dhanteras a festival of completeness and balance.
Mythological Legends of Dhanteras
The Legend of King Hima and the Serpent
Long ago, a young prince named Hima was destined to die from a snake bite on the fourth day after his marriage. His intelligent wife, determined to save him, lit many oil lamps all around the house and placed her ornaments and gold coins in a glittering heap near the bedroom door.
She kept her husband awake through the night, narrating stories and singing devotional songs. When Yama, the god of death, arrived in the form of a serpent, the dazzling light of the lamps and jewels blinded his eyes. Enchanted by the divine radiance, he spent the night listening to the songs and quietly left at dawn.
From this legend came the custom of lighting lamps in honor of Lord Yama — known as Yamadeep Daan. It signifies the victory of light over darkness and life over death.
The Emergence of Lord Dhanvantari
Another significant legend connects Dhanteras with the Samudra Manthan (the great churning of the ocean). When gods and demons churned the ocean to obtain the nectar of immortality, among the fourteen divine treasures that emerged, Lord Dhanvantari appeared holding a Kalash filled with Amrit (nectar of life) and texts on Ayurveda.
He became the god of health and healing, symbolizing the power of medicine and holistic wellbeing. In his honor, Dhanteras is also recognized as Dhanvantari Jayanti. Devotees pray for strong health and freedom from disease, considering it the true wealth in life.
Goddess Lakshmi’s Sacred Visit
It is believed that on this night, Goddess Lakshmi visits Earth with her divine energy, entering homes that are clean, pure, and glowing with light. That’s why households are scrubbed, decorated, and filled with diyas. Rangoli designs with lotus patterns and footprints of Goddess Lakshmi are made at the entrance to symbolically invite her presence.
Her footsteps are believed to carry fortune, harmony, and prosperity into the home.
Why Dhanteras Is Considered Auspicious for Shopping
Dhanteras is the most auspicious day in the year to buy gold, silver, or new metal items. Purchases made on this day are believed to attract fortune and multiply happiness.
Common Dhanteras Purchases:
- Gold/Silver Coins or Bars: Especially those engraved with Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha.
- Utensils: Preferably made of silver, brass, or steel. It’s considered inauspicious to buy iron on this day.
- Jewelry: A symbol of growth, prosperity, and lasting investment.
- Electronics or Automobiles: In modern households, these symbolize progress.
- Broom (Jhadu): Represents sweeping away negativity and welcoming divine energy.
Every purchased item, no matter how small, signifies a new beginning and an open invitation to Goddess Lakshmi.
Dhanteras Puja Vidhi (Worship Method)
Pre-Puja Preparations:
- Clean your home thoroughly; purity attracts positive energy.
- Decorate entrances with torans (mango leaf garlands), rangoli designs, and lights.
- Prepare the worship space with idols or images of Goddess Lakshmi, Lord Ganesha, Lord Dhanvantari, and Lord Kuber.
- Keep new utensils or jewelry to be sanctified during the puja.
Essential Puja Samagri (Items):
Flowers, incense, sandalwood paste, kumkum, rice grains, honey, coins, sweets (especially kheel-batasha), fruits, and ghee lamps.
Step-by-Step Puja Process:
- Light the Diyas: Place 13 lamps outside your home, facing south, as Yamadeep Daan for protection.
- Invoke Lord Ganesha: Begin with prayers to remove obstacles.
- Worship Goddess Lakshmi: Offer flowers, sweets, and coins while chanting the mantra
ॐ श्रीं महालक्ष्म्यै नमः (Om Shreem Mahalakshmyai Namah). - Pray to Lord Dhanvantari: Seek blessings for health and longevity.
- Conduct the Aarti: Sing hymns and rotate the diya before the idols with devotion.
- Distribute Prasad: Share the sacred offerings with family and neighbors.
Performing this puja during the Lakshmi Puja Muhurat (06:50 PM – 08:25 PM) is said to greatly amplify positive vibrations.
Spiritual Significance of Dhanteras
While Dhanteras is known for wealth and shopping, its core significance lies in spiritual and emotional prosperity. It teaches that health is wealth and that gratitude amplifies abundance.
- Lord Dhanvantari symbolizes physical wellness and the power of Ayurveda.
- Goddess Lakshmi represents financial growth and purity of thought.
- Lord Kuber teaches balance, savings, and the right use of fortune.
Together, they convey that the richest person is not the one who has the most, but the one who needs the least and shares the most.
Dhanteras Celebration Across India
- North India
- In states like Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, and Punjab, houses are illuminated with oil lamps and decorated with colorful rangolis. Markets bustle with gold, silver, and utensil buyers, and families perform evening aarti amid joyful gatherings.
- West India
- In Gujarat and Maharashtra, Dhanteras holds special importance for traders who perform Chopda Pujan, a ritual where new business ledgers are worshipped for financial success in the coming year.
- South India
- The day is observed as Dhanvantari Trayodashi, focusing primarily on health and Ayurveda. Temples dedicated to Lord Dhanvantari conduct elaborate rituals with offerings of lamps and herbs.
- East India
- Families in West Bengal light diyas to honor Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha, seeking both prosperity and protection. Tulsi plants (holy basil) are decorated with lamps at home entrances.
Modern-Day Dhanteras: A Blend of Tradition and Technology
In today’s era, Dhanteras has evolved while preserving its spiritual base. The new generation celebrates it by blending ancient customs with modern sensibilities.
- Digital Gold & E-Investments: Many people now buy digital gold or mutual funds — a symbolic continuation of the age-old gold-buying tradition.
- Eco-Friendly Celebrations: Households use natural clay diyas, earthen décor, and biodegradable materials to protect the environment.
- Corporate Puja: Offices conduct Lakshmi Pujas to invite success and growth.
- Charity Drives: Families donate food, clothes, or money to the needy — a modern reflection of daana (charity) tradition.
This adaptation of values ensures that even as lifestyles modernize, the cultural roots of gratitude and giving remain firmly grounded.
Do’s and Don’ts on Dhanteras
Do’s:
Purify your home and heart with cleanliness and devotion.
Purchase at least one metal or gold item, no matter how small.
Light diyas across your home, especially in the evening.
Perform the Lakshmi-Dhanvantari Puja during the shubh muhurat.
Perform charity — it multiplies blessings manifold.
Don’ts:
Avoid lending or borrowing money on Dhanteras day.
Do not buy black-colored or iron items.
Avoid breaking utensils or speaking harshly.
Refrain from negative thoughts and maintain a harmonious atmosphere.
Interesting Facts
Dhanteras marks the first day of the five-day Diwali festival, followed by Narak Chaturdashi, Diwali, Govardhan Puja, and Bhai Dooj.
In rural India, farmers worship their cattle and tools — their sources of livelihood — on Dhanteras.
In Maharashtra, many people perform Yamadeep Daan by lighting thirteen lamps facing south.
In Ayurveda, the day is dedicated to Lord Dhanvantari, the god of medical science, and observed with prayers for good health.
Business communities open new accounting books to begin the new fiscal cycle with auspicious blessings.
Financial Wisdom
Dhanteras encourages a mindset of wise spending, thoughtful investing, and ethical earning. The festival reflects India’s ancient economic wisdom — that wealth must be respected, circulated, and shared to create prosperity for all.
Its teachings are still relevant in 2025:
- Invest wisely: Choose assets that appreciate in value over time.
- Avoid greed: Seek wealth with integrity and hard work.
- Value health: A sound body is the greatest treasure.
- Give generously: Sharing strengthens community and karma.
Through its rituals, Dhanteras instills gratitude and financial consciousness — values essential for stability and growth.
Dhanteras 2025, observed on Saturday, October 18, marks the beginning of Diwali — the festival of light, hope, and wealth. It invites every heart to embrace financial prudence, spiritual depth, and gratitude for life’s many blessings.
As diyas illuminate homes and prayers fill the air, may this Dhanteras bring you renewed purpose, radiant health, and boundless prosperity. Remember, the true spirit of this festival lies in balance — earning ethically, spending wisely, and sharing generously.
Let the divine triad of Lakshmi, Dhanvantari, and Kuber guide your life toward abundance, well-being, and joy.
Wishing you and your family a very Happy Dhanteras 2025 — may fortune, health, and happiness multiply with every flicker of your diya!
