Dhanteras importance
Dhanteras (Dhanatrayodashi) is primarily a Hindu festival marking the official start of the Diwali celebrations. It is not a traditional festival observed across all religions in India, as its core religious mythology, rituals, and deities are rooted in Hindu scriptures.
Perspective Across Indian Religions
• Hinduism (Primary Observance):
• Core Meaning: Dhan means wealth and teras means the thirteenth lunar day of the Kartik dark fortnight.
• Deities Worshipped: Goddess Lakshmi (wealth), Lord Kubera (treasurer of the gods), and Lord Dhanvantari (the divine physician of Ayurveda and god of health).
• Key Practices: Purchasing gold, silver, or utensils, lighting the Yamadeep Daan (lamps for Yama, the god of death), and cleaning homes to invite prosperity
Jainism:
While Jains celebrate Diwali to mark the Nirvana of Lord Mahavira, Dhanteras itself is not a distinct Jain religious holiday, though some Jains in business communities partake in the cultural custom of wealth- and ledger-cleansing (symbolic of the financial year-end).
Sikhism:
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• Sikhs celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas around the same time of year (coinciding closely with Diwali) to commemorate the release of the Sixth Guru, Guru Hargobind Ji, from Gwalior Fort. Dhanteras as a concept is not part of the Sikh religious calendar
Islam, Christianity, and Other Faiths:
These faiths do not observe Dhanteras. However, in India's multicultural environment, the commercial and festive atmosphere leading up to Diwali is shared socially, and neighbors often exchange greetings or participate in the broader seasonal goodwill.
