Dhanteras 2025: When are you celebrating it, on the 18th October or on 19th October, Know about the Puja Vidhi, Shubh Muhurat and Significance

The culturally vibrant air of India is welcoming the festival of Diwali, and the first day of this season begins with Dhanteras. Dhanteras is generally observed two days before the festival of Diwali. The Diwali season extends for a period of five days, and the pious day of Dhanteras marks its starting. On Dhanteras Lord Dhanvantari and Goddess Lakshmi are worshipped, as it is believed that worshipping them will bring in prosperity, wealth, happiness and good health.

Importance and significance of Dhanteras

First let us know what the meaning of Dhanteras is. By amalgamation of the two words Dhan and Teras we get the word Dhanteras. Dhanteras is a Sanskrit word, where Dhan means wealth and Teras means the thirteenth day of the lunar cycle. There are two very famous legendary saga of Hindu mythological characters, one is that of Lord Dhanvantri and the other is of Lord Hima’s son.

a) The Saga of Lord Dhanvantari:

Lord Dhanvantari, the revered God of health is also supposed to be an avatar of Lord Vishnu. He is the celestial physician and the avatar of Bhagwan Vishnu. It is said that he emerged from the much-revered Samudra Manthan (churning of the cosmic ocean, the Ksheer Sagar) carrying the pot of amrit (nectar) in one of his four hands.

The day on which Lord Dhanvantri emerged is celebrated as Dhanteras every year. It is also known as Dhanvantri Jayanti or Dhan Trayodashi. It is believed that celebrating this day brings good health and prosperity.

b)The Saga of King Hima’s Son:

One more widespread tale of Dhanteras is that of the young son. His nakshatras (astrological chart) depicted that as per the placements of planets he was destined to die on the fourth day of his marriage by a snake biting him.

But the daughter in law of King Hima was a very dedicate wife and a very wise lady. On the fourth day and night of their marriage she did not let her husband sleep. She collected and the gold she could collect and placed on the entrance of the house. When the snake came to bite her husband as per fate, the snake who actually was Lord Yama was mesmerized and bedazzled by the shine and light of gold and before he could reach the King’s son the day was over.

The fateful day had passed, and the life of the King’ s son was saved. Thus this day is a symbolic representation to shoe that dedication and worship can spare you from untimely death and any kind of misfortune.

Date and Shubh Puja Muhurat of Dhanteras 2025

This year in 2025, Dhanteras will be observed on Saturday, the 18th October 2025 which is teo days before Diwali.

Shubh Muhurat for Puja on Dhanteras: 7.17 pm to 8.20 pm

This time duration is considered very sacred and beneficial for doing the Mata Lakshmi and Lord Dhanvantari Puja, lighting diyas (earthen lamps) and buying new utensils, vehicles, gold and silver.

Duration of Puja Muhurat: 1 hour 3 minutes

Trayodashi or Teras Tithi Begins at 12.18 pm on 18th October, 2025

Trayodashi or Teras Tithi Ends at 1.15 pm on 19th October, 2025

Dhanteras Puja Vidhi

Dhanteras marks the beginning of the Diwali five-day period. On the occasion of Dhanteras people clean their houses, decorate houses with toran and flowers, light the first Diwali diya on this day and the most important tradition of making new purchase is followed.

Puja for Lord Dhanvantri and Mata Lakshmi (Goddess Lakshmi) is also performed on this day. This year the Shubh Muhurat for Puja is from 7.17 pm to 8.20 pm, which is the Pradosh Kaal.

An easy step-by-step Puja Vidhi for Dhanteras is provide to enable doing the rituals and customs easily:

1. Clean your houses thoroughly and properly and make sure to properly wash the Puja or the worship place.
2. Properly wash or clean the portraits of Mata Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha.
3. Pray with full faith devotion and offer prayers to Lord Dhanvantri, Mata Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha.
4. Make or buya clay Diya or an earthen lamp and light it front of the deity. In addition offer fruits, flowers and sweets to the Gods. Chant the Lakshmi Mantra for prosperity as given:
   “Om Shreem Mahalakshmyai Namah”
   and the Dhanvantari Mantra for good health —
   “Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya Dhanvantaraye Amrita Kalasha Hastaya”
5. Do Arti and cleanse all your rooms with the sacred holy arti.
6. After the stars start shining, people light thirteen diyas on this day. Make sure that out of these diyas one diyas is outside the house facing away from the house signifying washing and shooing away all the negativity and negative energy away from the house. Do light diya in front of the deity at home and diyas at all corners of the house.

Traditional customs, rituals and practices followed on Dhanteras

One of the most beloved and valued traditions which is followed on Dhanteras is purchase of new items which includes utensils, cars and bikes, gold and silver. It is considered that purchase valuable and precious metals is believed to be very fortunate and propitious. It is said that purchasing precious metals o the occasion of Dhanteras brings prosperity, fortune, good health and wealth.

It is considered that buying new property, electronics and new vehicles will yield the best possible results and will turn out to be a great investment if done on this day. Many buy new idols of Lord Ganesha and Mata Lakshmi on this day. Some also buy jhadu (brooms) on this day symbolizing the washing away of negativity.

The Yam Diya or Yama Diya is lighted on the evening of Dhanteras. Many make sure that the Yama Diya burns all night long. The Yama Diya is lighted outside the house which symbolizes that light eventually takes over darkness.

People in the business and trade arena consider this day as one of the most auspicious days of the year. It is on this day that they buy new cashbooks and registers and worship them before they start using them.

Spiritual and Modern Relevance

Even though the traditional rituals of Dhanteras have evolved in the modern day, the meaning and essence still remains intact. The faith and spiritual meaning of this deep-rooted festival is still the same. In the modern times, it is an emblem of what good health, peace, positivity and prosperity stand for.

Just like the golden old days, people buy gold and silver for their loved ones, gift it and share it with the less fortunate. People nowadays try and engage in traditions which are more eco friendly and have lesser long term health risks.

Dhanteras is a reminder that wealth and health always go hand in hand. If one is not mentally and physically fit, no matter how much money and riches you own, you won’t be able to enjoy it. So, it is important to focus on one’s goals and careers and equally important to focus and maintain good health.

Conclusion

Dhanteras reminds everyone that family is the biggest wealth, it reminds all that if you celebrate any festival with family, the joy multiplies exponentially. Dhanteras is the festival of both health and wealth and thus holding on to and making both bloom will lead to the perfect happy life.