DHANTERAS (the First day of Diwali)

The First day is called Dhanteras or Dhantrayodashi, which falls on the thirteenth day of the month of Ashwin. The word "Dhan" means wealth. This day has great importance for the community. It is believed that the sixteen-year old son of King Hima, according to his horoscope, was doomed to die on the fourth day of his marriage by a snake-bite. So, on that particular fourth day of his marriage, his worried wife lighted innumerable lamps all over the place. She also laid all the ornaments and lots of gold and silver coins in a big heap at the entrance of her husband's room. She went on telling stories and singing songs through the night. When Yam -the god of death arrived there in the guise of a Serpent, the dazzle of those brilliant lights blinded his eyes and he could not enter the Prince's chamber. So he climbed on the heap of the ornaments and coins and sat their whole night listening to the melodious songs. In the morning, he quietly went away. Thus the wife saved her husband and since then this day of Dhanteras came to be known as the day of "Yamadeepdaan" and lamps are kept burning throughout the night in reverential adoration to Yam, the god of Death.