Reclaiming Dhanteras—beyond gold and glitter.

Why do we Celebrate Dhanteras?

A mythic journey from cosmic churning to conscious healing—rediscovering the festival of Dhanteras exploring its roots in Ayurveda, spiritual balance, and mindful living.

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Today is Dhanteras – A festival widely celebrated in many parts of India. While consumerism and profit-driven media portray it as a festival of material wealth and prosperity, its significance is rooted in the spiritual and holistic well-being.

Dhanteras is celebrated in the honour of Lord Dhanvantari, the divinely radiant and youthful physician of the gods.

When the Devas (celestial beings) and Asuras (powerful entities living in the forest realm) found themselves in the midst of an unresolved conflict, the weakened Devas approached Lord Vishnu. He proposed the idea of Sagar Manthan (Churning of the Ocean) with a tug of war to determine a winner.

He explained that the churning will yield the divine nectar or Amrit which would heal the gods and restore their strength. He advised the Devas to seek a temporary truce with the Asuras to help with the mighty task, promising to share the nectar equally.

On the thirteenth day of the churning, Lord Dhanavantari emerged out of the ocean holding a pot(kalash) of amrit—the elixir of immortality. He also held a conch shell (Shankha --representing the divine sound of creation), a discus (Chakra-- symbolizing the cycle of life), and medicinal herbs—embodying the wisdom of Ayurveda and nature’s pharmacy.

This day came to be celebrated as Dhanteras or Dhanatrayodashi. The word “Dhan” means wealth, while “Teras” refers to the thirteenth lunar day. However, the wealth celebrated here is not merely material, it refers to health, the foundation of all prosperity. As the saying goes, health is wealth.

Lord Dhanvantari taught sages and physicians the art of healing, herbal remedies, surgery, and the principles of maintaining health through proper diet, clean lifestyle, and spiritual discipline.

Yet today, instead of seeking his blessings for health and wisdom, many are blinded by commercials urging them to buy precious metals on this day. The regrettable shift reflects a loss of connection with the festival’s original intent.

I believe that the metals mentioned may also refer to the essential minerals and nutrients required for our body to function well. These naturally occurring elements are vital to a balanced diet and wellness.

In South India, a special lamp called Yama Deepam is lit in the evening and placed facing south to honour Yama, the god of death. This ritual is performed to ward off untimely death and seek longevity and good health represented by Lord Dhanavantari.

The story of Lord Dhanvantari and Dhanteras offers deep spiritual wisdom.  The churning of the ocean mirrors our own inner struggle where both poison and nectar arise and how through knowledge and mindfulness, we can learn to choose what’s best for us. It also reminds us that opposing forces are nature’s way of maintaining balance on earth and how we must traverse between the material and spiritual to achieve wholeness. 

The teachings of Lord Dhanvantari have been preserved through generations, forming the foundation of Ayurvedic holistic healing.

The traditions we observe are not merely religious customs, they hold deeper spiritual and holistic wisdom, guiding us towards mindful living.

Unfortunately, modern interpretations have often distorted and reduced them to obscene displays of wealth and inane and detrimental practices like bursting of crackers which ruin ecological balance and peace and harm our health.

It is about time that we practice these rituals in their true sense reclaiming the wisdom lost somewhere in the folds of blind faith and religious fanfare.

·       Light earthen diyas to ward off negativity

·       Welcome positive energies by cleaning our homes and hearth to welcome Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity.

·       Prepare healthy and nourishing homemade food and traditional sweets to prepare our bodies for the winter ahead.

·       Share what we have with our neighbours and those in need.

Wishing everyone a healthy, meaningful, and joyful Dhanteras.

Please feel free to share your wisdom and the rituals you follow to make this festive season fruitful and meaningful. Thank you.