Dhanteras Puja: Vrat, significance, and what foods to eat on this day

Dhanteras is a popular festival of India and is celebrated with much enthusiasm. Also known as Dhantrayodashi, it is a part of 5-day festival, which is known as Diwali. Deepavali or Diwali is one of the important festivals of Hindu culture and is celebrated across the country with much pomp and show. Dhanteras falls on the 13th day of the Krishna Paksha in the month of Kartik as per Hindu calendar.It is an important day for traders, as people buy gold, silver, utensils and even gadgets. It's said that buying such things on Dhanteras brings good luck in the house and Goddess Lakshmi blesses you. On this day, people worship Lord Dhanvantri, Lord Kuber and Goddess Lakshmi.

When is Dhanteras?
Like all the festivals, this year there is a lot of confusion regarding the actual date of Dhanteras. However, this article will help you out with the actual date. As per the Hindu panchang, the Trayodashi tithi begins at 9:30 PM on 12th November, Thursday and ends at 5:59 PM on 13th November, Friday. While the correct muhurat for Dhanteras Puja is from 5:28 PM to 5:59 PM on Friday. The Lakshmi puja on Dhanteras is done best in the Pradosh Kaal which will fall on 13th November, Friday. The correct muharat for the same is 5:30 PM to 8:10 PM.
History & Significance of Dhanteras
This day holds a lot of importance for Hindus, as it's the day when Lord Kuber and Goddess Lakshmi along with Lord Dhanvantri came out of the ocean during 'Samudra Manthan'. Not just that people also worship Yamaraj - the 'God of Death'. As per Mythology, there was a king named 'Hima', whose fate had it that his son will die on the 4th day of this marriage. However, his daughter-in-law was smart and she knew what she had to do to ward off the death of his husband. So, she took all her Gold and Silver jewellery and placed them at the main door. She also lit several Diyas to bring light into the path of Lord Yamaraj. When he came to take the soul of her husband, he got blind by the bright light. And thus, her husband's life was spared. For the same reason, why people light large Diyas on Dhanteras on the front door. This is done to ward off any untimely death in the family.
This auspicious occasion is said to increase prosperity in your life and thus it is suggested to wear new clothes, buy gold & silver jewellery, Lakshmi-Ganesh idols, vehicles, gadgets, kalash, utensils, and even broom. Some people also say that if you are buying a kalash or any other utensil, then you must not keep it empty. Fill it with sugar, rice or even some homemade mithai.
Dhanteras Vrat
Not much is known about it, but some people fast on this day, i.e., Dhanteras from morning to sunset. Panchamrit is made on this day using curd, milk, honey, sugar and ghee. This Panchamrit is first offered to the Gods and then the fast is broken by taking it as a prasad. This is done after the Kuber-Lakshmi Puja. Afterwards, one can have sattvik food.
Food to eat on Dhanteras
On the auspicious occasion of Dhanteras, it is said that Aate Ka Halwa should be prepared to impress Goddess Lakshmi, and later distributed to all the people present in the puja. In East India, a dish called Lapsi is prepared with long-grain cracked wheat, sugar and ghee. To impress Goddess Lakshmi, a prasad of coriander seeds mixed with jaggery is prepared for the evening puja. Also, Boondi Laddoo and Kheer plays an important role on the occasion of Dhanteras.