Today begins Diwali celebrations for many Hindus around the world. If this is your first Diwali after being married, it is extra special. The new bride is welcomed into the in-laws home with gifts and sweets to wish her and her husband a prosperous and happy life.
Plus a first Diwali occurs during that blissful time in a marriage when everything is new and shiny. If you are celebrating Dhanteras for the first time in your home, here are some tips:
Clean the Mandir – Brush up the divas to be new and shiny, wipe away all dust and dirt with a clean cloth, and clean the gods so they are free of dirt.
Add a rangoli to the mandir and/or to the entrance of the house – Rangoli is a beautiful colored design to attract Laxshmi into the house and make her happy seeing the decorations.
Take a relaxing bath – On Dhanteras, people celebrate by taking a bath with fragrant oils like sandalwood and rose and women wash their hair.
Light divas – Place divas around the entrance of your home to ward off evil spirits. Be sure to light the divas on all evenings of Diwali.
Buy silver, gold or a household utensil – On the day of Dhanteras, Hindus consider it auspicious to buy precious metals or something for the home. Hindus believe that buying “Dhan” (asset) in some form of metal will bring luck and prosperity for the family.
Perform a Lakshmi puja – On Dhanteras evening, perform a pooja to ask for prosperity in the coming year. You can put together some bhajans (devotional songs) to sing with your family to praise Goddess Laxshmi.
Most importantly, have fun and enjoy your first diwali as a married couple! Tomorrow I’ll some last minute ideas for gift basket shopping.
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