Dhanteras! The festival of good fortune, wealth, prosperity!
Dhanteras, also known as Dhanvantari Trayodashi, marks the beginning of the Diwali festival in India.
The word 'Dhan' translates to wealth. The word 'Theras' translates to the 13th and is related to the 13th lunar day of the Krishna Paksha of Kartika in the Hindu calendar.
Like most festivals, it's a blend of mythology, hope, worship, and festivity. People dress up in traditional Indian wear and celebrate the festival with great zeal and pomp.
The festival is also known as Yama Deepam, Yam Deep Puja and Yam Deep Daan, and marks the first day of Diwali celebrations in North India and Gujarat especially.
Lamps are lit all night, dedicated to Yamraj, the God of death.
In some regions of India, lamps are lit for the ancestors and floated down a river or pond. People light an oil lamp outside the main entrance of their home to ward off the threat of untimely death to their family.
On the commercial side, it's a busy time for marketing strategists too! They have zoomed in on:
Who's shopping on Dhanteras, What they're buying, How much, their Preferred marketing channels and Top Dhanteras deals!
Newspapers are full of jewellery advertisements, hoardings display alluring photos of celebrities wearing gold and diamond statement pieces and online sites have brought an extensive list of Dhanteras shopping guides.
But, the spiritual significance of Dhanteras is the act of making our minds, resolves and intellects as pure as Gold.
Light is associated with divinity.
In the Upanishads, we come across the words, “Tamassoma Jyotirgamaya”, which means “From darkness, lead us onto the light.”
The Buddha wanted those who sought Truth to be lamps unto themselves..." Om Mani Padme Hum", a mantra, means “the jewel (light) lies within the lotus (self).
The Gayatri mantra speaks of the Sun as the power that removes all darkness.
"Om Bhur Bhuvaḥ Suvaha
Tat-savitur Vareñyaṃ
Bhargo Devasya Dheemahi
Dhiyo Yonaḥ Prachodayāt!"
Meaning: We meditate on that most adored Supreme Lord, the creator, whose effulgence (divine light) illumines all realms (physical, mental and spiritual). May this divine light illumine our intellect.
There is both ignorance and good within us and by lighting up the good within us, we can dispel the darkness. But, we need to spread the light within us to be able to reach those around us as well.
This is why people light the central lamp first during Diwali which is then used to light all the other lamps.
Dhan Teras is symbolic of wealth and prosperity. Let’s be like Shri Lakshmi – removing all disparity. The real wealth is the wisdom she possesses.
Once we light our inner Self, all our other faculties will be lit.
To know real happiness, we need to know ourselves first, after which we will be able to spread the light of happiness to others.
It's once again time to celebrate the triumph of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and good over evil with the immortal words of Sant Gyaneswar "Jyot se jyot jagate chalo, prem ki naiya badhate chalo".
