Dhanteras, which marks the beginning of the five-day festival of lights, is considered an auspicious day to buy new metal items, especially precious metals like gold and silver. People flock to shops to buy valuable items ahead of Dhanteras.
Dhanteras is observed on the 13th lunar day of Krishna Paksha (dark fortnight) in the Vikram Sambat Hindu calendar month of Aaswayuja in the Amaavasyanta Luni-Solar Calendar. On Dhanteras, devotees worship Lord Dhanvantari, the God of Ayurveda and iis believed that Lord Dhanvantari helped humankind by imparting the wisdom of Ayurveda, to help rid it of horrible diseases.
Literally, Dhanteras means