Kanpur: With Dhanteras, the beginning of the five-day Diwali festival, falling on Friday, markets across the city have been decked up to welcome customers. Special arrangements have been made in utensil and bullion markets, where traders have displayed a wide range of products to attract buyers.People have already started purchasing utensils and precious metal articles to avoid the rush expected on Friday.According to traders in the utensil market, brass utensils and copper articles are witnessing considerable demand. Stainless steel utensils are also being purchased, though their demand is comparatively lower than that of brass and copper items.Bullion markets, too, have started witnessing customers buying gold and silver coins and jewellery according to their budgets. Buyers were seen visiting Birhana Road and Chowk Sarafa markets to purchase the precious metals.Explaining the religious significance of Dhanteras, Vishwa Bandhu Bajpai said the festival would be observed on November 6 according to the Hindu Panchang. The Trayodashi tithi will begin at 10.30 am on Friday and end at 10.47 am on November 7. The auspicious time for evening worship will be from 6.02 pm to 7.57 pm.He said Dhanteras is also celebrated as Dhanvantari Jayanti, marking the appearance of Lord Dhanvantari, regarded as the divine physician and the god of Ayurveda. According to Hindu mythology, Lord Dhanvantari emerged during Samudra Manthan (churning of the cosmic ocean), carrying a pot of amrita, the nectar of immortality.Goddess Lakshmi, the deity of wealth and prosperity, is also worshipped on the occasion. She is believed to have emerged from the ocean of milk during Samudra Manthan. Lord Kuber, the treasurer of the gods and guardian of wealth, is also worshipped for financial well-being and prosperity.Bajpai said people also light special lamps dedicated to Lord Yama, the god of death, seeking protection and longevity for their family members.
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