This day, also called Dhantrayodashi, is especially important for shopping, as devotees believe that buying certain items on Dhanteras brings good luck and blessings from Goddess Lakshmi. (Photo: Google AI Studio)
Dhanteras marks the beginning of the five-day Diwali festival, a celebration of health, wealth, prosperity, family bonds, and protection. This day, also called Dhantrayodashi, is especially important for shopping, as devotees believe that buying certain items on Dhanteras brings good luck and blessings from Goddess Lakshmi.
On Dhanteras, people traditionally purchase items linked to Goddess Lakshmi. These include cowrie shells, lotus stones (kamalgatta), coriander seeds, gomti chakras, turmeric roots, brooms, and gold or silver. Buying these items is believed to attract wealth, prosperity, and happiness.
However, not all purchases are considered auspicious on every day. For example, brooms and mustard oil are advised not to be bought on Saturdays, as this year Dhanteras falls on Saturday, October 18, 2025.
According to tradition, brooms and mustard oil should be purchased on Sunday before noon. Dhanteras (Trayodashi Tithi) starts at 12:18 PM on October 18 and ends at 1:51 PM on October 19.
Even though Dhanteras is the main shopping day for Diwali, buying brooms and mustard oil on Saturday is avoided to respect astrological beliefs.
The broom is associated with home cleanliness and prosperity. It is considered a symbol of Goddess Lakshmi. Buying a broom on an inauspicious day, such as Saturday or Tuesday, is believed to anger the goddess and could lead to financial losses and obstacles in family life.
Astrologically, Saturday is linked to Saturn (Shani) and Tuesday to Mars (Mangal), both considered challenging planets. Purchasing a broom these days is avoided to prevent misfortune.
The most auspicious days to buy a broom are Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, as they bring positive energy, wealth, happiness, and harmony to the home. Using a broom correctly on these days also eliminates negative energy and keeps the household atmosphere pure and positive.
Like the broom, mustard oil is not recommended to be purchased on Saturdays. Mustard oil represents Saturn, and tradition encourages donating it rather than buying it on this day. However, mustard oil is important for lighting Diwali lamps, so it can be purchased on other auspicious days leading up to Diwali.
This year, Dhanteras coincides with Shani Pradosh Vrat. Devotees can light a lamp for Lord Shani in the evening. Placing a lamp with black sesame seeds before Lord Shiva’s idol can reduce the effects of Shani Dosha. This ritual may help improve health and financial stability while alleviating diseases or debts.
