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The festival of
Diwali is celebrated with gaiety and enthusiasm for a period of five days and
each day has its significance with numerous myths, legends and beliefs. The
first day is called Dhanteras or Dhantrayodashi, which falls on the thirteenth
day of the month of Ashwin, two days before Diwali. The word 'Dhan' means
wealth. On this people worship Lord Yama to provide prosperity and well being.
LEGENDS:
Legend has it that once Lord Vishnu was going south and specifically
ask ed
Goddess LAn Interesting
Tale:
There is a very interesting
story associated with this festival. It’s about the sixteen-year-old son of
King Hima. As per his horoscope he was doomed to die by snakebite on the fourth
day of his marriage.
On that particular fourth day of his marriage his young wife did not allow him
to sleep. She laid all the ornaments and lots of gold and silver coins in a big
heap at the entrance of her husband's boudoir and lighted innumerable lamps all
over the place. And she went on telling stories and singing songs.
When Yam, the God of Death arrived there in the guise of a Serpent his eyes got
blinded by that dazzle of those brilliant lights and he could not enter the
Prince's chamber. So he climbed on top of the heap of the ornaments and coins
and sat there whole night listening to the melodious songs. In the morning he
quietly went away.
Thus the young wife saved her husband from the clutches of death. Since then
this day of Dhanteras came to be known as the day of "Yamadeepdaan"
and lamps are kept burning throughout the night in reverential adoration to Yam,
the God of Death.
Rituals &
Traditions:
Earlier people use to buy to
new utensils on the day of Dhanteras. This tradition is still followed by the
people. On this day people bath early in the morning and observe fast, which is
only broken after sunset with sweetmeats, puri and other delicacies.
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