Gold coins, silver medallions and a queue at the Nepal Rastra Bank’s Mint Division. That was the scene in Baber Mahal on Thursday, a day before Dhanteras, when the central bank began selling coins ahead of the festival. Each customer could buy one 2.5-gram gold coin and up to two 10-gram silver medallions carrying images of Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesh, with sales running through Friday.
Today, November 6 (Kartik 20, 2083), is Dhanteras, the day Tihar begins. If you think it is only about shopping, the story behind it is more interesting than that.
What the name means
Dhanteras, also called Dhantrayodashi, combines “dhan”, meaning wealth, with “teras”, the thirteenth lunar day. It falls on the thirteenth day of the waning moon in the month of Kartik.
Kaag Tihar is on November 7, Kukur Tihar and Laxmi Puja on November 8, Gai Tihar on November 9, Govardhan Puja and Mha Puja on November 10 and Bhai Tika on November 11.
The day is known for buying gold, silver, jewellery and metal utensils. Many families also buy small gold or silver idols of Lakshmi and Ganesh to worship during Tihar. But it does not have to be expensive. A small metal utensil counts as auspicious in many homes. In the Mithila region of Madhesh, people also buy traditional brooms and coriander.
Three gods, one festival
Three figures are worshipped. Goddess Lakshmi stands for wealth and good fortune. Lord Kubera is the divine treasurer, the guardian of wealth. And then there is Lord Dhanvantari, the divine physician.
Dhanvantari gives the festival its twist.
In Hindu mythology, the gods and demons churned the cosmic ocean to find Amrita, the nectar of immortality, using Mount Mandara as the churning rod and the serpent Vasuki as the rope. Among the treasures that rose from the ocean came Dhanvantari, holding a pot of Amrita. He is revered as the god of Ayurveda, which is why the day is also known as Dhanvantari Jayanti in religious traditions.
So the day that celebrates wealth also honours healing. Health, in this telling, is its own kind of prosperity.
The lamp for Yama
One of the most striking rituals is Yama Deepam. In some Hindu households, an oil lamp is placed outside the house, often facing south, to honour Yama, the god of death and justice, and to pray for protection from untimely death and for the well-being of the family.
According to the story, a young prince was fated to die from a snakebite on the fourth night after his wedding. His wife piled gold and jewellery at the entrance of their room, lit lamps all around and kept him awake all night with songs and stories. When Yama arrived as a serpent, the dazzling light kept him from entering, and the prince lived. It is a religious legend, which gives the lamp its meaning: a wish for long life and for the safety of the people you love.
Who celebrates it
Dhanteras is mainly observed by Hindu communities in Nepal and India and by those living abroad. It is especially visible in urban markets and among business owners, who traditionally see the day as the start of a favourable financial period.
What it means for a younger generation
For earlier generations, gold was savings. It was a way to hold family wealth in something that would keep its value. For younger Nepalis facing rising living costs, uncertain jobs and the pull of financial independence, the question looks different: what does financial security actually mean now?
Gold is still a traditional store of value, but prosperity can also mean savings, a stable job, access to education and the freedom to make your own money decisions. And the Dhanvantari side of the festival speaks to something young people talk about a lot, burnout, stress and mental health. The old story already said that wealth without health is not much.
Plenty of young Nepalis celebrate Tihar far from home, studying or working abroad. Some still buy something auspicious, others join in through family video calls and digital greetings. The way people celebrate changes, but the wish to stay connected to family and heritage does not. Understanding Dhanteras does not mean following every ritual. It can mean knowing why the rituals exist and what they were meant to protect.
The bigger idea
Behind the crowded jewellery shops and the glowing lamps, Dhanteras links three wishes: prosperity, health and protection. The lamps lit across Nepal tonight carry a centuries-old hope for abundance, good health and happiness. Wealth, the festival suggests, is measured not only by what someone owns, but by what they can protect, preserve and build.
