Dhanteras is one of the most auspicious days of the year. Dhanteras marks the beginning of the five-day Diwali festival. It is believed that whatever ones buys on this day, reaps rich benefits. The word Dhanteras is derived from two words – ‘Dhan’, meaning wealth and ‘Teras’, which signifies the 13th day of the Krishna Paksh, of the lunar month Kartik. “Dhanteras is the day of incarnation of Dhanwantari, the God of health. It is said that on this day, Dhanwantari arouse from Lord Vishnu’s Samudra Manthan, or churning of the ocean, with a pot of life-giving nectar. So, one prays to Dhanawantri, the deity of health, for good health and wealth in life,” explains states Jayshree Dhamani, a Vastu Shastra and astrology expert.
“Dhanteras or Dhantrayodashi, which is celebrated two days before Diwali, is an auspicious time to buy property or give token money for a new house. However, ideally, one must not perform a griha pravesh on this day. People also buy gold or silver, utensils and electronic appliances, on this day,” says Mumbai-based Nitien Parmar of VastuPlus. “It is believed that any purchases, whether it may be gold or property, will flourish and bring prosperity, if bought on this auspicious day,” adds Parmar. Dhanteras is an auspicious time to buy property or give token money for a new house. However, one must not do a griha pravesh on this day.
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A Dhanteras puja is performed in the evening. Along with fresh flowers and prasad, one offers wheat and various pulses. Small footprints, using vermilion, symbolising the arrival of Goddess Lakshmi, are made near the entrance of the home as part of the Dhanteras pooja. “Many people also take out their gold and silver items from their lockers and clean it with honey, holy water, curd and milk. People also buy new gold or silver, on this day. Finally an aarti is performed,” Parmar elaborates. It is believed that Goddess Lakshmi is associated with Gomti Chakra, the white coloured sea shell which has small circles. Hence, people buy it to welcome the Goddess of wealth to their homes. On this day, a Chaumukhi – a square diya with four wicks – is lit up at the main entrance door of the house in the evening. Also, earthen lamps are lit at the entrance and in the entire household, to drive out the evil energy and Lord Yama.
It is considered auspicious to buy coriander seeds (dhania) on the occasion of Dhanteras. Dhaniya is considered the symbol of wealth and is offered to Goddess Lakshmi. Also, a few seeds are kept in the locker after the puja.
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Dhanteras pooja 2023 muhurat
Date: November 10, 2023
Day: Friday
Trayodashi Tithi: 12:35 PM to 1:57 PM on Nov 11, 2023
Muhurat for Dhanteras puja: 5:47 PM to 7:43 PM
Pradosh Kaal: 05.30 PM to 08.08 PM
Muhurat to buy: 2:35 PM to 6:40 PM
According to Vastu and astrology experts, one can purchase items such as gold, silver, utensils, etc. during the auspicious muhurat.
Lakshmi puja is done during Pradosh period during Dhanteras.
City-wise timings for Dhanteras puja 2023
| City | Puja muhurat |
| Ahmedabad | 6:15 PM to 08:13 PM |
| Bangalore | 6:10 PM to 08:13 PM |
| Mumbai | 6:20 PM to 8:20 PM |
| Kolkata | 5:13 PM to 7:11 PM |
| Chennai | 6:00 PM to 8:02 PM |
| New Delhi | 5:47 PM to 7:43 PM |
| Hyderabad | 6:00 PM to 8:01 PM |
| Chandigarh | 5:45 PM to 7:39 PM |
| Pune | 6:17 to 8:17 PM |
| Jaipur | 5:56 PM to 7:52 PM |
| Gurgaon | 5:48 PM to 7:44 PM |
| Noida | 5:47 PM to 7:42 PM |
Dhanteras puja: Signifiance
According to Hindu mythology, Dhanvantri emerged during the Samudra Manthan (churning of the ocean), carrying the holy Ayurveda text in one hand and a pot full of elixir in the other. Therefore, this day is celebrated as National Ayurveda Day. Purchasing gold and silver items and even utensils on the auspicious festival of Dhanteras is considered to bring prosperity and good luck. People also offer these newly purchased items to Goddess Lakshmi and offer Bhog.
As per another popular belief, Goddess Lakshmi appeared from the churning of the ocean. Hence, it signifies wealth, good fortune, prosperity, and happiness. Thus, families engage in decorating their homes with rangolis at the main door and illuminating the house entrance with diyas or oil lamps to invite the blessings of the goddess and positive energies.
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Rituals performed on Dhanteras
On the day of Dhanteras, people worship Goddess Lakshmi and perform a puja after sunset. They recite Dhanteras ki Katha and light oil lamps outside the doors of the house, except for toilets. It is believed that the light of the lamps shows Goddess Lakshmi the way to their homes. Also, the Tulsi plant is worshipped on this day in the evening. A paste of vermilion and rice flour is prepared to draw the footprints of Goddess Lakshmi, which is considered auspicious and brings wealth and prosperity to the household.
Dhanteras pooja: How to do dhanteras puja at home?
Dhanteras puja is performed two days before Diwali by worshipping Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi at home.
- Clean the puja area and place the idols or images of Lord Dhanvantari and Goddess Lakshmi on a chowki. Cover the chowki with a crimson cloth.
- Decorate the temple with fresh flowers, especially red roses and lotus.
- Light a diya. This diya should be kept lit overnight.
- Light camphor, dhoop or incense sticks.
- Start the puja by worhsipping Lord Ganesha.
- Avoid buying glass or plaster of Paris idols.
- Place a kalash and decorate it with flowers, turmeric powder, rice, kumkum, coconut and betel leaves. Tie the sacred red thread (mauli) around the kalash.
- Place some coins in the Kalash.
- Reciting aartis, ringing bells and chanting of mantras, are the rituals to be followed for blessings of the divine.
- Offer prasad of fruits, sweets and dry fruits to the deities.
Vastu tips for Dhanteras pooja
- Draw a Swastik symbol on the home main entrance with turmeric and rice powder paste.
- Purify the house by using salt water, which helps eliminate the negative energies.
- Choose the northeast corner for the Dhanteras pooja. Position the idols so they face the east direction. While worshipping, face the north direction.
- According to the traditions, people worship clay and silver or any other metal idols of Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi.
- On this day, people worship three forms of Goddess Lakshmi – Goddess MahaLakshmi, Maha Kaali and Goddess Saraswati. They also worship Lords Kuber and Ganesha, as they represent wealth, education and peace and serenity.
Things to avoid on Dhanteras day
- Avoid buying glass or plaster of Paris idols.
- Do not buy sharp objects such as scissors, knives, pins, etc.
- According to Vastu experts, one should not buy items made of iron, aluminium and plastic.
- However, one can buy things made of other metals.
- One should not purchase products black in colour as they represent bad luck.
- As per the traditions, people do not buy oil and ghee on Dhanteras. One can stock up such items before the festival.
Dhanteras prashad and dishes
- For the Danteras puja, people prepare special Naivedya or dish offered to Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Vishnu, as mentioned in the sacred texts. The special prasad is made with jaggery and dry coriander seeds.
- Moreover, in many parts of north India, people cook whole wheat halwa and offer it to Goddess Lakshmi.
- Another important Prashad prepared for Dhanteras puja is the panchamrit. It is a beverage prepared using five substances namely milk, sugar, honey, ghee, and curd.
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What does Goddess Lakshmi symbolise?
The word Lakshmi is derived from the Sanskrit word Laksya, meaning goal. Goddess Lakshmi represents material and spiritual prosperity. Besides wealth, she also symbolises intelligence and happiness. Performing lakshmi pooja at home on the occasion of Diwali is believed to bring prosperity and good luck in the house.
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Lakshmi puja and Diwali celebrations
Diwali is one of the most important festivals in our country. It is also a day when the Goddesses of wealth is worshipped. Most families perform a simple Lakshmi pooja at home on the auspicious day of Diwali. To welcome Goddess Lakshmi, home owners clean their homes thoroughly. One should remove shoes, slippers and other broken and unwanted things from the entrance of the house. “It is believed that Goddess Lakshmi only enters a clean house. So, ensure that the home is free of dust, dirt, cobwebs and old and broken things, as they obstruct positive energy from entering the house. From a practical perspective, this is done, to rid the house of insects and fungus, which may have built up during the monsoons,” Parmar explains.
Diwali is celebrated on the day of amavasya of Kartik month. As there is no moonlight on Amavasya, hence, diyas are lit to illuminate the home. Lighting of the diyas, signifies dispelling of darkness, (ignorance) and it represents knowledge, happiness and hope. For Diwali puja, the temple area should have good flow of energy and hence, should be clean. “As the sun rises from the east, one gets maximum energy in this direction. Keep all idols on the east wall of your house and face east, while worshiping. The Diwali puja is done after the sunset and the mahurat lasts for almost two hours, after sunset,” says Parmar.
How to do Diwali Laxmi puja at home?
- Make sure to clean the house thoroughly and sprinkle Gangajal or water.
- Set up an altar or a platform. Cover it with a red cloth. Put some grains in the centre.
- Now, fill a Kalash or copper pot with water, supari, marigold flower, coin, and grains. Add mango leaves around the neck of the Kalash.
- Place the Kalash at the centre of the platform.
- Arrange a small flat heap of rice grains. Design a lotus flower using turmeric (Haldi). Place the idols of goddess Lakshmi at the centre and puja thali on the Kalash.
- Keep the Ganesh idol on the right side of the Kalash, in the southwest direction.
- Light an oil lamp using Lakshmi puja oil, preferably a Panch Mukhi Diya.
- Put a few coins, books or items related to your business or wealth before the deity.
- Start the Diwali Laxmi puja at home. Apply tilak on the Kalash and offer flowers.
- Perform the holy bath for the deities in pure water, panchamrit, sandal water and rose water. Decorate the idols using turmeric powder, sandal paste and vermillion. Adorn the idols with garlands and flowers.
- Perform the Diwali Laxmi puja aarti while chanting the mantra.
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Vastu tips for Lakshmi Puja on Dhanteras and Diwali
- As per Vastu Shatra, it is important to have the knowledge of lakshmi puja vidhi at home.
- Make sure you keep the idol of lord Ganesha on the left of Goddess Lakshmi while Goddess Saraswati is placed on the right side. All the idols should be in the sitting position. Set up the puja area in the north-east direction of the home. The idols placed in the puja must face the east direction. When performing the puja, sit facing the north direction.
- Place the kalash on the chowki covered with a red cloth above it, place the idols and decorate it with sindoor and flowers.
- Make a paste of powdered rice and turmeric to make a Swastik on the main entrance of the house. Turmeric is considered auspicious and symbolises prosperity and rice signify positivity.
- Some of the offerings for Laxmi Puja include batasha (spherical crispy sugar candy ) laddoos, betel leaves and dry fruits, coconut, sweets and some coins or jewellery.
- Spray salt water in all the corners of your home as it absorbs negativity and purifies the atmosphere.
- Lighting guggal dhoop is considered very auspicious during Diwali. It brings peacefulness to the environment.
- Do not wear dark-coloured clothes for Lakshmi Puja as it is considered inauspicious.
- Apart from laddu, offer rice kheer as prasad during this puja as it is considered very auspicious.
- Offer lotus to Goddess Lakshmi after Diwali Puja, as it is considered very lucky for the house.
- It is auspicious to ring a bell or blow a conch at the time of Lakshmi Puja, as it removes negative energies from the house.
- Chant the mantras of Lakshmi and perform an aarati to conclude the puja.
Ways to please Godesses Lakshmi on the day of Diwali
- Using tulsi mala chant ‘Shree’ for 108 times, as Shree is the name of Goddess Lakshmi,
- Maa Lakshmi loves cleanliness so ensure the home is clean and clutter-free.
- On the occasion of Diwali, worship all the three Goddess Lakshmi, Goddess Durga, and Goddess Saraswati.
- On the day of Diwali light a diya in every corner of your home to invoke the blessings of Lakshmi and pray for abundance.
- Offer 11 Lotus flower to Goddess Lakshmi. Keep 21 or 108 Kamal Gatta to goddess Lakshmi during the puja.
- Take a bowl filled with unbroken rice mixed with turmeric. Place the bowl in front of goddess Lakshmi.
Dhanteras pooja Vastu do’s and don’ts
| Vastu dos | Vastu don’ts |
| Clean the pooja room before performing the puja | Do not keep unwanted items such as broken furniture as it is a Vastu dosha |
| One should buy a broom as it is believed to prevent Goddess Lakshmi from leaving the house | Do not purchase sharp objects on Dhanteras |
| Make sure to keep every corner of the house well-lit and ensure there is no darkness. | Do not buy items or clothes black in colour. Avoid selling household items. |
| Worship cows and feed them chapati, green grass, etc. | Avoid giving rice while doing charity. Do not give money to anyone on Dhanteras. |
| Distribute medicine and help the needy. | Do not consume onion, garlic, egg, meat, alcohol, etc. |
| Chant Goddess Lakshmi mantra and perform the puja |
Tips to decorate the house for Diwali and Dhanteras
- While you prepare for Diwali Laxmi puja decoration at home, make sure to thoroughly clean the house as the first step.
- The main door is called as the Simha Dwara and it is the face of the Vastu Pursush. Hence, should be decorated well, clean and free of any obstructions.
- Light diyas, not only near the temple but also keep them at the main door. Diyas symbolise goodness and purity and lighting them denotes chasing away darkness or ignorance and going into the light and knowledge. Vastu associates the tulsi plant with Goddess Lakshmi. If you have a tulsi plant, keep diyas near it. Traditionally, diyas were lit using ghee (clarified butter) but nowadays people commonly use mustard oil diyas for Diwali. Keep safety in mind, when placing diyas near the main door, windows or in the temple. Opt for diyas with glass covers.
- Decorate the home with rangoli designs, with motifs like lotus, swastika, Om, etc., to welcome Goddess Lakshmi.
- Hanging of torans at the entrance, restricts negative energies from entering the house and invites good luck and prosperity.
- Decorate the temple with fresh flowers, like marigold, mogras and roses. On a white paper, write ‘Shubh Labh’ with Kum Kum and keep it near the Lakshmi idol or photo.
- You can decorate the puja mandir with marigold, rose or lotus flowers. It is an interesting idea for background flower decoration for Lakshmi pooja at home.
Eco-friendly Dhanteras and Diwali Puja tips
When performing Lakshmi pooja at home and celebrating Dhanteras and Diwali, do it in a sustainable and eco-friendly way. Use earthen diyas for the puja and brighten up the puja room or temple with LED lights.
Decorate the altar and the main door with fresh flowers, floral strings, origami or bamboo decorations. Another easy Diwali Laxmi puja decoration at home would be creating an altar with coins for the goddess of wealth Make a rangoli near the puja area with biodegradable colour or use rice powder, flower petals and grains. Avoid plastic lanterns and instead, use recycled or handmade paper, clay palm leaf and jute lanterns. Decorate the puja thali with turmeric powder, kum kum and fresh flowers or simply paint them.
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Diwali Laxmi puja decoration at home
Here are some beautiful Laxmi pooja decoration ideas to try at home. However, before you start decorating your house for the upcoming festival, it is essential to thoroughly clean the house to make it welcoming to goddess Laksmi. According to the belief, goddess Laksmi does not step into a house that looks messy and cluttered.
Repaint the house
Clean the house and give the walls a fresh coat of paint. Start the painting of the walls at least two weeks before the festival.
Rangoli for Diwali Laxmi puja at home
Among the popular ways to decorate Indian homes during festivals is by making alluring rangoli designs. Pick a perfect collection of rangoli colours as per your choice. Get creative and go for unique rangoli designs for the house entrance, pooja room and other areas of the house. You can incorporate the sacred Laxmi feet designs and diyas in your rangoli.
Source: Pinterest
Laxmi pooja flower decoration
Flowers increase the positivity in the house and set up a vibrant ambience for the festive occasion. Display a variety of flowers for the occasion. Deck up the house entrance with flower garlands and torans. Make attractive rangoli designs and use flower petals to give an attractive look.
Source: Pinterest
Say it with lights
Lights, especially the traditional diyas, are an integral part of any Diwali celebration. According to the custom, women of the house light diyas in the evenings after sunset. The lights have a special significance as they are said to show the way for the Goddess Lakshmi to enter the homes. Opt for a mix of eco-friendly, terracotta diyas and electrical lighting options for the Diwali laxmi puja decoration at home.
Source: Pinterest
Diwali decoration with Banana Trees
Including banana trees in your home decor can be one of the classic Laxmi pooja decoration ideas you can try at home. In south Indian households, banana trees hold a special significance during festivities. You can tie them to the pillars at the home entrance or on the doors. Moreover, as per Vastu, the banana tree ensures fertility and invites growth for the family.
Source: Pinterest
FAQs
How to do Laxmi Puja on Dhanteras at home?
Keep a kalash half-filled with water (mixed with Gangajal), a betel nut, a flower, a coin and some rice grains together. After this, take a plate and bathe the idol of Lakshmi with panchamrit.
What should be done on Dhanteras?
On the night of Dhanteras, diyas (lamps) should be lit in honour of Lakshmi and Dhanvantari. Buying gold or silver articles or even steel utensils (ensure it is not empty, fill it with water or some grain when taking it home) is considered very auspicious.
Can one buy a broom on the day of Dhanteras?
Apart from gold and silver, brooms are also bought on Dhanteras, as it symbolises the removal of poverty from the household.
What should one avoid buying on the day of Dhanteras?
On Dhanteras, never buy items which have sharp edges, leather or things made of iron. Avoid buying black-coloured things on Dhanteras as it is considered inauspicious during Dhanteras.
What is the significance of kheel batasha during Diwali Puja?
Kheel is puffed rice and batasha is sugar candy offered to Godesses Lakshmi during Diwali, seeking blessings for health and wealth.
Can we keep a standing Lakshmi idol at home?
It is advised to keep images of Lakshmi comfortable seated, preferably next to Saraswati, the Goddess of knowledge.
How many diyas to burn on Dhanteras?
According to the traditions, people light 13 diyas in different areas of the house on Dhanteras. The thirteen laps are dedicated to Lord Kuber, the god of wealth.
Which direction to do Diwali puja at home?
Perform the Dhanteras puja area in the northeast direction of the home. Make sure the idols face the east direction and the person worshipping faces the north direction.
(With inputs from Surbhi Gupta)
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