Festivals in India are a time of warmth, togetherness and traditions. The festival of Dhanteras marks the beginning of Diwali. A time when cities and homes are lit up in their glittering best.
Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped for wealth and prosperity on this day, and it is a time-honoured ritual to buy precious metals during this time in homage. The festival falls during the auspicious month of ‘Kartik’ – roughly between the months of October and November. ‘Dhanteras’ is the coming together of two words that mean wealth (dhan) and thirteen (teras), and represents the 13th day of the ‘Kartik’ month. In some parts of India, Dhanteras is also celebrated as the birth anniversary of Dhanwantari, the God of Ayurveda. A day on which wealth (in another form) is celebrated – the wealth of good health.
Over time, jewellery has come to signify wealth of all things – of good health, sound values, and a good life. And so today, on days that are traditionally significant, we purchase a precious object, and pray we receive true wealth in life.