Tribal communities of South Gujarat celebrate Dhanyateeras instead of Dhanteras

According to a report by Sandesh, the tribal communities residing in the Surat, Valsad, Tapi, Dang, Bharuch, and Narmada districts of South Gujarat celebrate the Teras before Diwali as Dhanyateeras instead of Dhanteras, following a tradition of many years. This festival is primarily celebrated in the joy of harvesting the Kharif crop.

For centuries, the tribal society has been worshipping the moon, sun, tools for sustaining life, weapons for self-defence, and nature along with the harvesting of crops including paddy. During this festival, farmers and livestock rearers perform Lakshmi Pujan along with the worship of nature and ancestors according to the customs of their forefathers.

As part of the celebrations, on the day of Diwali, lamps are lit in every field, at wells, in cattle sheds, granaries, at the doors of houses, as well as inside the home and the cowshed. Traditionally, dishes made from wheat flour, vadas, pakodas, and mirchi vadas were prepared on this day, but currently, according to new traditions, dishes such as kheer-puri and gulab jamun are also prepared.