DHANTERAS 2024: 29 or 30 OCTOBER ?, Shubh Muhurat, Puja Vidhi and Timings, What to Buy, Significance, Rituals

Dhanteras 2024, also called Dhantrayodashi, kicks off the Diwali festivities with sacred rituals and prayers aimed at bringing wealth and prosperity. Celebrated on October 29, 2024, devotees observe traditional rituals and perform puja during the auspicious Dhanteras puja muhurat to seek good fortune.

When is Dhanteras (Dhantrayodashi) 2024?

Dhanteras (Dhantrayodashi) 2024 will be observed on Tuesday, October 29, 2024.

Dhanteras Date & Timings 2024

Puja Muhurat: 6:55 PM to 8:22 PM, October 29
Pradosh Kaal: 5:54 PM to 8:22 PM
Vrishabha Kaal: 6:55 PM to 8:57 PM
Trayodashi Tithi Begins: 10:31 AM, October 29, 2024
Trayodashi Tithi Ends: 1:15 PM, October 30, 2024

Dhanteras Puja Vidhi 2024: Step-by-Step Rituals

Performing the Dhanteras Puja with proper rituals is essential to invoke blessings for wealth and prosperity. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

Clean Your Home: Start by thoroughly cleaning your house, especially the entrance and the puja area. Decorate with rangoli and light diyas to invite positive energy.
Prepare the Puja Thali: Arrange a plate with a diya, roli, rice, sweets, flowers, and incense sticks. Place a small idol or picture of Lord Dhanvantari and Goddess Lakshmi in the thali.
Light a Diya: In the evening, light a diya at the main entrance, known as Yamadeep Daan, believed to ward off negativity and protect the household.
Invoke Lord Dhanvantari: Offer prayers to Lord Dhanvantari, the God of Ayurveda, for health and well-being. Offer water, flowers, and sweets.
Offer Prasad to Goddess Lakshmi: Perform aarti for Goddess Lakshmi and offer sweets as prasad to attract wealth and prosperity.
Recite Dhanteras Mantra: Chant the Dhanteras mantra for your family’s prosperity.
Buy Auspicious Items: After the puja, purchase items such as gold, silver, or utensils, believed to bring good fortune.

Significance of Dhanteras

The word ‘Dhan’ in Dhanteras signifies wealth, and the day is dedicated to worshiping Lord Dhanvantari, who emerged from the Samudra Manthan (ocean churning) with a pot of Amrit (elixir). This day is associated with health, wealth, and longevity. Worshiping Lord Dhanvantari is believed to eliminate financial challenges and bring prosperity to the household.

Dhanteras Rituals

Preparations for Dhanteras start well before the actual day, with people thoroughly cleaning and decorating their homes and offices. Diyas, lights, rangoli, and flowers are used to adorn spaces, especially the entrance, which is decorated with colorful rangoli designs. The footprints of Goddess Lakshmi are often imprinted at the doorway to invite her blessings.

On Dhanteras, people wake up early and bathe shortly after sunrise. After completing their morning routines, they begin preparing for Lakshmi Puja, which takes place in the evening. The whole family gathers to worship Goddess Lakshmi using ghee diyas, flowers, kumkum, and rice. Lord Kuber, the god of wealth, is also worshipped to increase blessings and prosperity.

Special sweets and dishes are prepared as offerings to Goddess Lakshmi. In Maharashtra, a unique offering called ‘Naivedyam’ is made using powdered dry coriander seeds and jaggery.

Many devotees also observe a fast from morning until the Lakshmi Puja is completed. Afterward, the prasad is shared with the family and distributed to friends and neighbors. The day is filled with devotional songs and bhajans dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi.

Another important tradition on Dhanteras is lighting the Yamadeep, a diya placed outside the home in honor of Yama, the god of death. It is believed that this ritual protects the family from evil and prevents untimely death.

What to Buy on Dhanteras: A Shopping Guide

Why Buying Gold and Silver is Auspicious

Purchasing gold and silver on Dhanteras is a tradition deeply rooted in the belief that these precious metals symbolize wealth, purity, and good fortune.

Gold and Silver are seen as not just valuable commodities, but as carriers of divine energy, attracting prosperity and positive vibes into your home.
Buying them on Dhanteras is a way of honoring Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Kubera, the deities of wealth and abundance.
These metals also represent a sound financial investment, offering protection against future uncertainties.
The act of purchasing gold or silver is more than a transaction—it’s a ritual that aligns with the spiritual essence of the festival, emphasizing both material and spiritual wealth.

Metallic Items and Utensils: Significance and Options

Beyond gold and silver, the tradition of buying metallic items and utensils is equally significant. It’s believed that bringing these items into your home invites prosperity and well-being.

Brassware such as lamps, statues, and vessels are popular purchases. Like gold, brass is considered highly auspicious.
Kitchenware made of stainless steel, copper, or brass symbolizes a steady food supply and nourishes the family both physically and spiritually.
Coins embossed with Goddess Lakshmi in gold, silver, or bronze are commonly bought to attract wealth and blessings.
For those looking to modernize their household, appliances and electronics are also considered ideal purchases on Dhanteras, as they symbolize progress and prosperity.
Major purchases like vehicles are seen as a symbol of prosperity and are often booked or bought on this day.
Jewelry, especially gold jewelry, is a must-have as it signifies growing wealth, with gemstones adding to the tradition of buying something valuable.