Diwali 2021 | Untold story behind Dhanteras festival celebration

A long long time ago, there was a king called Hima who had a teenaged son. (Image: News18 Creative)

The horoscope of the prince had predicted that he would die of snakebite on his sixteenth birthday. (Image: News18 Creative)

Despite the death threat, the prince decided to get married and even told his wife about the prediction. (Image: News18 Creative)

His wife was determined to save his life. So, she decided to not let him sleep in order to prevent the snake from biting him. (Image: News18 Creative)

Not just that, she placed lots of jewelry, and gold and silver coins outside the sleeping chamber, lighting up the entire place with radiant lamps. (Image: News18 Creative)

The wife also sang beautiful hymns all night to keep the prince awake. (Image: News18 Creative)

To fulfil the prediction, Lord Yama, the God of death, arrived in the guise of a serpent that night to take prince away. (Image: News18 Creative)

But his eyes were blinded by the dazzling ornaments and lamps. He climbed atop the bejeweled heap and began listening to the songs sung by the prince’s wife. (Image: News18 Creative)

As night turned to dawn, the enthralled serpent had no other option but to leave. (Image: News18 Creative)

Thus, the prince was saved and lived happily ever after. As a tribute, Dhanteras is celebrated every year since, with people buying jewelry and precious metals. (Image: News18 Creative)

Dhanteras is also the day of ‘Yamadeepdaan’, a ritual where lamps are kept burning through the night to pay respects to Lord Yama and keep away untimely death. (Image: News18 Creative)