Dhanteras

Dhanvantari, physician of the gods and originator of Ayurveda, emerged from the samudra manthan on this day carrying the pot of amrita. Separately, the tale of King Hima's son, saved from a snake-bite death foretold by astrologers when his wife piled gold and lamps at the door and kept him awake with stories, from which the lamps come.

Metal is bought, utensils, steel, silver, gold, on the belief that it multiplies in the house. Lamps lit, and a Yama deepam placed facing south at the doorway for protection. Lakshmi and Kubera worshipped in the evening.

Sweets and dry fruit; the Diwali cooking begins in earnest.

In Maharashtra it's also Vasu Baras territory, with the cow-and-calf worship the day before. In the south it's less prominent as a buying day but Dhanvantari Jayanti is observed by Ayurvedic practitioners. The National Ayurveda Day is officially observed on Dhanteras.