Through the celebration of Diwali spans over four days but in some parts of the country, as in the western India, the curtain for the period of the celebration is raised with Dhanteras or dhantrayodashi which falls on the thirteenth day of the month of Kartik.
The word "Dhan" means wealth. As such this day of the Diwali festival has a great importance for the rich mercantile community of Western India. Houses and business premises are renovated and decorated. Entrances are made colorful with lovely traditional motifs or Rangoli design to welcome the Goddess of wealth and prosperity. To indicate her long-awaited arrival, small footprints are drawn with rice flour and vermilion powder alll over the houses. Lamps are kept burning all through the nights. Believing this day to be auspicious woman purchase some gold or silver or at least one or two net utensils. "Lakhami-Puja" is performed in the evenings when tiny diyas of clay are lighted to drive away the shadows of evil sprits. "Bhajan" - devotional songs - in praise of Goddess Lakshmi are sung and "Naivedya" of traditional sweets is offered to the Goddess. There is a peculiar customin Maharastra to lightly pound dry coriandar seeds with jaggery and offer as Naivedya.
In villlages cattle are adorned and worshiped by farmers as they form the main source of their income. In south cows are offered speical veneration as they are supported to be the incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi and therefore they are adorned and worshipped on this day.
The pre-diwali day is of great importance to the rich community of western India houses and business.
Dhan Terash- Laxmi Pooja Celebration Nakshtra and Date: आसो वद 12 - Thrusday October 31 2013 Muhrat Time: US CST Time 6:31 PM - 07:03 PM (31 Oct) 7:22 PM - 09:17 PM (31 Oct) US EST Time 5:57 PM - 8:41 PM (31 Oct) 6.43 PM - 8:32 PM (31 Oct) US PST Time 6:05 PM - 8:48 PM (31 Oct) 6:53 PM - 8:43 PM (31 Oct)