Diwali 2018: All you need to know about Dhanteras - Muhurat timings and significance

The Hindu festival of Diwali begins today on Monday, November 5, 2018. The fun-filled festivities that beginning with Dhanteras and ends with 'Bhai Dooj' or 'Bhau Beej'.

• Dhanteras: November 4, 2018
• 'Choti Diwali' or 'Narak Chaturdashi': November 5, 2018
• Lakshmi Puja: November 6, 2018
• 'Bhai Dooj' or 'Bhau Beej': November 9, 2018 

Muhurath for the occasion:

Dhanteras Puja will be celebrated on November 4, 2018. The auspicious timing for Dhanteras is from 06:06 pm to 08:01 pm. The duration is an hour and 56 minutes.

Pradosh Kaal:  05:29 - 08:07 pm
Vrishabha Kaal: 06:06 PM - 08:01 pm

Trayodashi Tithi Begins - 01:24 am on November 05, 2018
Trayodashi Tithi Ends - 11:47 pm on November 05, 2018

The significance of Dhanteras:

During Dhanteras, people buy gold, silver and/ or new utensils. It is believed that the Goddess Lakshmi blesses them with more wealth. On this day, people worship not only Goddess Lakshmi, but also God Kuber, who is also the god of wealth.

People also clean up their homes and light diyas in their homes which is believed to purify the place and drive away the evil. They also decorate the doorway by making a rangoli.

The story of the Dhanteras festivities:

As the story goes, there was a king called Hima whose son was destined to be tragically killed by a snake bite four days after his marriage. In order to prevent his son from encountering his fate, he decided to stop his son from meeting women. But after the son turned 16, he fell in love with a girl and got married. The girl after getting to know the fate of her husband decided to trick Lord Yama (God of death) to prevent his death. She filled the doorway of their room with heaps of gold and silver. So when the god of death tried to enter their room in the form of a snake, he was taken with the shimmering pile of wealth that laid in front of him and forgot about killing King Hima's son. The sun rose the next day, he left without harming him.

READ: These Relatable Tweets Leading Up To Diwali Are Breaking The Internet!

PM Modi wishes nation Diwali greetings:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter and extended Dhanteras greetings on Monday. He wrote, "Greetings on the auspicious occasion of Dhanteras. May this special day enhance the spirit of peace and prosperity in our society".  

READ: Greetings on the auspicious occasion of Dhanteras. May this special day enhance the spirit of peace and prosperity in our society.