Dhanteras marks the first day of Diwali celebrations. Dhanteras or Dhanvantari Trayodashi falls on the thirteenth lunar day of Krishna Paksha in the Hindu month of Kartik (October-November). The word ‘Dhan’ means money or wealth in Hindi. On this day people worship the Goddess Lakshmi or the Goddess of Wealth. The mercantile community particularly celebrates Dhanteras. For them, Dhanteras marks a New Years time for their business. Houses and market places wear a festive look on the day and people go on a heavy shopping spree to mark the auspicious day.

Legends of Dhanteras
There are two popular legends related to the festival of Dhanteras.

Legend of Lord Dhanwantari
It is believed that during the churning of ocean process carried out by Gods and demons, Dhanvantari - the Physician of Gods and the incarnation of Lord Vishnu emerged carrying a jar or Amrut (elixir) on the day of Dhanteras. Hence, Lord Dhanavantari is worshiped by many on the day of Dhanteran.

Legend of Yamadeep Daan Ritual
This intriguing legend narrates the story of sixteen-year-old son of King Hima who according to horoscope was doomed to die of snakebite on the fourth day of his marriage. Aware of the prophecy, the clever wife made a plan. On the particular day the wife did not allow her husband to sleep. Further, she heaped all her silver and gold ornaments at the entrance of the door and illuminated the whole place with lamps. The wife sang and narrated stories to keep her husband awake.

When Lord Yama - the Mythological God of Death arrived in the guise of the serpent, the lights dazzled his eyes and he could not enter the room of King Hima’s son. The serpent sat on the heap of ornaments and spent the night mesmerized by the melodious songs sung by Princess’s wife and quietly went away in the morning. As the Prince was saved by the illumination of the lit lamps, the tradition of ‘Yamadeep Daan’ became popular amongst people. Hence, the lamps are kept burning throughout the night on Dhanteras in reverence to Lord Yama.

Rituals and Celebrations of Dhanteras
To indicate the arrival of Goddess Lakshmi, people draw small footprints drawn with rice flour and vermilion powder throughout the house staring from entrance. The day of Dhantrayodashi is spent in shopping as people consider it auspicious to buy articles of gold - silver and some utensils.

To celebrate the arrival of Goddess Lakshmi people keep oil lamps burning throughout the night. There is a tradition to perform Lakshmi-Puja at the midnight. Those present sing devotional songs in praise of the Goddess. At the end of the worship naivedya of sweets is offered to the Goddess. This Naividya is later distributed amongst near and dear ones.

In villages of South India, farmers worship cow on Dhan Teyras. This is because cows is means to wealth for the farmers and also because cows are considered to be the incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi.