Dhan Teras is also known as the Dhana trayodashi, Dhan means Laxmi and Teras means thirteenth so on the thirteenth day of Krishna paksh of the Ashwini Month Dhan Teras is celebrated. Across India, Diwali celebration starts from the Dhan Teras with full of joy. Diwali is the biggest festival and the most well known in India and a lot of other countries too. People worship Ma Devi Laxmi, the goddess of wealth, Lord Dhanvantari the god of Ayurveda and the Lord Kuber on the Dhan Teras with various traditions as per the culture.

As per the Law of Karma, wealth acquired by any other means will create conflict in individual life as well as in society. It is said that the wealth used for self is termed Dhan, used for others - Lakshmi, used for unethical purposes - alakshmi and used for God - Mahalakshmi.

Story and Significance: There are many stories behind the Dhan Teras, one of the well-known stories is about a 16-year-old son of King Hima. As per his horoscope, prediction of his death by snake bites on the fourth day of his marriage. So on this day, his wife had planned to save her husbands life and tried to keep him awake the whole night. She laid out lots of ornaments, gold and silver coins in a mass at the entrance of the bedroom and a lot of lamps around the room. Then she started singing songs and narrated stories to keep her husband awake. Once Yam, lord of death came to the room, Lord Yam was amazed by the lamps and ornaments and started listing song and story so missed the purpose to come there. This is how the newlywed wife saves her husband from death. So with the intelligence and wealth, she manages to save wife. From this day, the celebration of Dhan Teras started across the nation. Another famous story is related to the Lord Dhanvantari, during the Samudra Manthan arranged between Dev and Demon, Lord Dhanvantari, God of Ayurveda emerged carrying a jar of the Amrut and sacred text about Ayurveda on this day. Recently Indian Government had announced 28th October as the National Ayurveda Day.

Also, the Ma Devi Laxmi emerged from Samundra Manthan on this day as well. One more story of Lord Vaman avatar of Lord Shree Vishnu and King Bali is attached with Dhan Teras, on this day Lord Vaman takes all the wealth and land from king Bali and gave it back to the God.

Celebration: On the Dhan Teras, people across the nation worship the Ma Devi Laxmi and Lord Kuber. Devotees purchase the Gold and Silver on this day and feel Ma Devi Laxmi came to their home. The entrance of the home decorated with colorful rangoli to welcome Ma Devi Laxmi. Lamps are lighted during the entire night to drive away from the evil. People clean their homes, color, make rangoli, prepare special sweets to celebrate Diwali and welcome Ma Devi Laxmi with friends and family members. Children have the Diwali vacation so enjoy a lot with crackers, food and travel.

In short Lakshmi Pujan is the acceptance of the devotees that wealth that we have is ultimately the result of God grace. People say that Laxmi is fickle but it is not truth but the morale of individuals having huge wealth became fickle. With Ma Laxmi grace, an individual can become dev or demon. If he believes that wealth is the tool for the enjoyment then he will fall down and if the individual worships Ma Devi Laxmi as a mother then wealth becomes Prasad. Ma Devi Laxmi always gives blessing to the individual who used wealth in cultural activity. The famous words – Nothing can be done by an individual without the help and grace of God, without God, we cannot change the position of a single leaf. So we all have to thank our Gods every day who gave us such a priceless life.