Dhanteras and Naraka Chaturdashi: The Days Before Diwali

The five-day Diwali festival opens with two days that are quieter than the main night but rich in tradition: Dhanteras and Naraka Chaturdashi.

Dhanteras: the day of health and wealth

Dhanteras falls on the thirteenth day (Trayodashi) of the dark fortnight of Kartika in the Purnimanta calendar. The word comes from dhan, meaning wealth, and teras, the thirteenth. The day is linked to Dhanvantari, the physician of the gods. According to the Puranic story of the churning of the ocean, he emerged holding a pot of amrita, the nectar of immortality. The same story also describes the birth of Lakshmi, told in Samudra Manthan. Dhanvantari is considered the patron of Ayurveda, and some communities now observe the day as National Ayurveda Day.

Common customs include:

• Buying something new, traditionally metal such as gold, silver, brass or steel utensils, as a sign of good fortune.
• Cleaning the house and shop, preparing for Lakshmi's arrival.
• Lighting a lamp at the entrance in the evening.
• Yama Deepam: an oil lamp is lit facing south at dusk, in memory of a legend about King Hima's son and Yama, the god of death, intended to ward off untimely death.

Buying is optional. The deeper idea is to value health and thoughtful use of resources, so many families simply buy a small item or donate to charity.

Naraka Chaturdashi: Choti Diwali

The next day, the fourteenth of the dark fortnight, is known as Naraka Chaturdashi, Roop Chaudas or Choti Diwali. In South India and parts of the west, it is the primary day of celebration. The story: the demon Narakasura, who imprisoned thousands of women and troubled the gods, was defeated by Krishna with the help of his wife Satyabhama. His last wish, goes the tradition, was that his death be remembered with lights.

On this day, many families:

• take an early-morning oil bath, called abhyanga snan, followed by new clothes,
• light lamps before sunrise,
• prepare festive sweets and snacks, and
• burst a few crackers where permitted.

In the south, people greet each other with "Ganga snanam aachha?" asking whether the bath has been taken. In Bengal, the evening is observed as Bhoot Chaturdashi, when 14 lamps are lit, and Kali Puja is held the following night.

Why these days matter

They are about preparation: for the body, the home, and the mind. After the early rituals, the focus turns to the main evening, described in the Lakshmi Puja guide. Decorating the entrance with rangoli is also an important part of these days, see Rangoli, diyas and torans.