Why you should light 13 diyas on Dhanteras?

The Hindu festival Dhanteras, which is celebrated just two days before Diwali, marks the beginning of the celebration, lighting lamps and diyas, good food and the victory of good over evil. It brings families together as they light diyas, perform puja rituals and pray for wealth, prosperity and safety of all.

A long-standing puja tradition among Hindus, has been the lighting of 13 diyas on Dhanteras. These 13 diyas are placed in different corners of the home and some in the nearest temple to ward off evil energies, negative spirits and ensure that nothing dulls the colour of Diwali and ensures protection of all family members. This year Dhanteras falls on November 10, 2023, and here we list why you should make sure to light 13 diyas at your home.

The first diya is usually kept near the trash can or at the entrance of the house to ward off any negativity and evil. Some cultures also believe that the first diya, when lit with all members of the family and then kept outside helps to evade untimely death and accidents.

The second diya isn’t lit with oil but rather ghee and is placed wherever the home temple is. This diya, placed in the mandir is said to bring in positivity, happy vibes and a calm atmosphere.

The third diya should be lit in front of Goddess Lakshmi, who is said to be the Goddess of wealth and prosperity. Lighting the diya in front of Goddess Lakshmi ensures good health and financial prosperity.

The fourth diya is lit up in front of the Tulsi plant, which is considered holy and auspicious among all Hindus. This diya lights up the lives of the family members with happiness.

To prevent any negativity or bad vibes from entering your home, the fifth diya is placed at the entrance of the house. The diya radiates positive energy, preventing any malicious intent from entering your home.

Instead of ghee or normal oil, the sixth diya is filled with mustard oil and then lit up near the peepal tree. As the Peepal tree is a way to please Jupiter, lighting a diya near Peepal tree brings in improved health and finances.

Not forgetting the temple or mandir near your home during festive time, the seventh diya is supposed to be lit near a temple that is close to your home. This brings in more blessings for you and your family.

To ward off any negativity present inside the house, the eighth diya is lit near the garbage area inside the house.

The ninth diya is lit near the washrooms present inside your home. This diya maintains a free flow of positive energy around the house.

While traditional houses used to have a slant roof, now in flats, the 10th diya is lit on the balcony of the home. Thus, place this diya either on the roof or the balcony to ensure no harmful energies come your way.

The eleventh diya is lit near the windows of the house to light up that spot and promote positive energy.

The twelfth diya is lit either on the top floor or the terrace of the house. It not only radiates positive energy but also helps set the festive mood as the diyas are lit in every corner of the house.

The last diya is placed at an intersection of your house to completely ward off any bad energies from coming your way.

Now, while this is how many cultures light their diyas, in different sections of the house, it does change from family to family. People from different regions have different beliefs regarding where and with what intention to keep the diya and you too should follow this or whatever the elders of the family dictate.