Dhanteras or Dhanatryodashi
Deepawali The first day is known as Dhanteras, which falls on the 13th lunar day of the dark fortnight in the month of Kartik. When the sea of milk was being churned by gods and devils, Mata Lakshmi (goddess of wealth) and her sibling god Dhanvantari (the divine physician with the pot containing elixir of immortality) emerged to provide the world with wealth and health. We celebrate Dhanatryodashi by worshiping Lakshami, Ganesh and Dhanavantri. On this day houses are whitewashed and cleaned in preparation for Diwali. In the evening the doorway is decorated with lights and rangoli. Footprints are drawn with rice flour all over the house, indicating the arrival of Goddess Lakshami and god Dhanvantri. The deities are worshiped with the set of offerings as prescribed by religious books and ghee lamps are lit around their thrones. A few of them are kept burning all through the night in honour of the god and goddess. As an offering to Yama, the god of death, diyas (lamps) are...