Dhanteras[1] (Hindi: धनतेरस), also known as Dhanatrayodashi (Sanskrit: धनत्रयोदशी), is the first day that marks the festival of Diwali or Tihar in most of India and Nepal It is celebrated on the thirteenth lunar day (Trayodashi) of Krishna Paksha (dark fortnight) in the Hindu calendar month of Ashwin (according to the amānta tradition) or Kartika (according to the Bikram Sambat tradition).

A peculiar custom in Maharashtra exists where people lightly pound dried coriander seeds with jaggery and offer the mixture as naivedya.

The main entrance is decorated with colorful lanterns and holiday lights, and traditional motifs of rangoli designs are made to welcome Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity.

[7] Hindus consider this an extremely auspicious day for making new purchases, especially of gold or silver articles and new utensils.

[citation needed] On this night, the lights are set out in the sky lamps and as offerings at the base of a tulasi plant and in the form of diyas, which are placed in front of the doorways of homes.

[citation needed] In South India (especially Tamil Nadu), Brahmin women make marundu (which translates as 'medicine') on Dhanatrayodashi, the eve of Naraka Chaturdashi.

According to a popular legend, when the devas and asuras performed the Samudra Manthana (churning of the ocean) for amrita (the divine nectar of immortality), Dhanvantari (the physician of the Gods and an incarnation of Vishnu) emerged carrying a jar of the elixir on the day of Dhanteras.

Then she narrated stories and sang songs to keep her husband from falling asleep; the next day, when Yama, the god of death, arrived at the prince's doorstep in the guise of a serpent, his eyes were dazzled and blinded by the brilliance of the lamps and the jewelry.

Yama could not enter the prince's chamber, and so he climbed on top of the heap of gold coins and sat there the entire night listening to the stories and songs.

[10] This practice came to be known as yamadipadana as the women of the house light earthen lamps (dipas), kept burning throughout the night glorifying Yama.