Mumbai: Dhanteras, an auspicious festival marking the beginning of Diwali, holds immense importance in Indian culture. Celebrated on the Trayodashi Tithi (13th lunar day) of Krishna Paksha in Kartik month, this festival venerates Lord Dhanvantari, the god of Ayurveda and health, and Goddess Lakshmi, the deity of wealth. It is a day devoted to prosperity, good health, and happiness, making it customary for people to purchase precious metals like gold, silver, or new household items. This symbolic act is believed to invite good fortune and positivity into one’s home. Dhanteras this year falls on October 29, 2024, and people across Canada are gearing up for their puja rituals with great devotion.
In cities like Brampton, Toronto, Halifax, and Vancouver, each with a specific Dhanteras Puja Muhurat, devotees can follow the most auspicious timings to perform their Dhanteras puja for maximum blessings. From lighting traditional lamps known as Yama Deepam to invoking Lord Dhanvantari, Goddess Lakshmi, and Lord Kubera (the god of wealth), Canadians of Indian descent continue to cherish and uphold these rituals, making Dhanteras a festival that transcends borders. Below are the details of the Dhanteras Puja Muhurat for some major Canadian cities, along with an overview of the significance and traditions associated with the festival.
Dhanteras Puja Muhurat in Brampton
For those observing Dhanteras in Brampton, the auspicious Dhanteras Puja Muhurat falls between 6:56 PM and 8:42 PM on October 29, 2024. This period, lasting 1 hour and 46 minutes, is especially significant during Pradosh Kaal (from 6:13 PM to 8:57 PM) and Vrishabha Kaal (6:56 PM to 8:42 PM). Devotees light the Yama Deepam, a four-sided lamp placed in the south direction, to honour Yama, the god of death, as a means of protection and to ward off untimely death.
Dhanteras Puja Muhurat in Toronto
In Toronto, the Dhanteras Puja Muhurat is from 6:55 PM to 8:41 PM, aligning with both Pradosh Kaal (6:12 PM to 8:56 PM) and Vrishabha Kaal (6:55 PM to 8:41 PM). This 1-hour-and-46-minute span is considered ideal for worship, as it harmonizes with the energies of the day. Devotees in Toronto observe traditional rituals, offering prayers to Lord Dhanvantari and Goddess Lakshmi, ensuring health and prosperity for their households.
Dhanteras Puja Muhurat in Vancouver
For Vancouver residents, the puja muhurat is from 6:33 PM to 8:13 PM, slightly earlier due to the time difference. This auspicious window of 1 hour and 40 minutes includes Pradosh Kaal (5:55 PM to 8:44 PM) and Vrishabha Kaal (6:33 PM to 8:13 PM). Observing the Yama Deepam ritual at this time is particularly propitious for inviting health and protection, honouring Lord Dhanvantari and upholding cultural traditions.
Dhanteras Puja Muhurat in Halifax
In Halifax, the Dhanteras Puja Muhurat extends from 6:49 PM to 8:34 PM, covering a 1-hour-and-45-minute duration. Pradosh Kaal occurs from 6:07 PM to 8:51 PM, with Vrishabha Kaal from 6:49 PM to 8:34 PM. This timeframe aligns with Halifax’s Dhanteras rituals, where devotees prepare traditional offerings and perform prayers to welcome prosperity and abundance.
Significance and Rituals of Dhanteras
The festival of Dhanteras celebrates not only material wealth but also the health and well-being that sustains it. On this day, households place an emphasis on spiritual cleansing, starting the day with prayers and adorning entrances with colourful rangolis and sacred footprints of Goddess Lakshmi. Puja involves worshipping Lord Dhanvantari, the divine physician who emerged during the churning of the ocean with a pot of nectar, symbolising health and longevity. People also buy metals such as silver, copper, or brass, which are then dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi as a symbol of inviting wealth.
The Yama Deepam ritual, involving the lighting of an oil lamp in the southern direction, is observed to seek protection from untimely death. Households also refrain from buying specific items like glass or aluminium, as these are believed to attract negative energy. The evening concludes with the recitation of the Dhanvantari Stotram, Lakshmi Aarti, and the sharing of prasad, symbolising the blessings of health and wealth for the year ahead.
