Rijiju extends Dhanteras greetings, invokes Lakshmi, Kuber and Dhanvantari

Key Takeaways

Kiren Rijiju , Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs, posted Dhanteras greetings on 6 November 2026 .

His message invoked Goddess Lakshmi (wealth), Lord Kuber (celestial treasurer), and Lord Dhanvantari (health and Ayurveda).

Dhanteras falls on the thirteenth lunar day of Kartik and marks the official start of the five-day Diwali festival.

Rijiju expressed a prayer for happiness, peace, good health, and prosperity for every citizen.

Festival greetings from Union ministers are a routine part of cultural engagement in Indian public life, with Diwali drawing the highest volume of such outreach.

On the auspicious opening day of the Diwali season, Union Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju extended heartfelt Dhanteras wishes to the nation, invoking the blessings of three presiding deities of the festival — Goddess Lakshmi, Lord Kuber, and Lord Dhanvantari.

Posting in Hindi on Friday, 6 November 2026, Rijiju wrote: 'धनतेरस के पावन पर्व की सभी को हार्दिक शुभकामनाएँ' — 'Heartfelt greetings to all on the auspicious festival of Dhanteras.' He described the occasion as a symbol of happiness, prosperity, good health, and well-being, and expressed a prayer that this festival bring peace, excellent health, and abundance into every life.

What Dhanteras marks — and why three deities preside

Dhanteras falls on the thirteenth lunar day of the month of Kartik in the Hindu calendar, and it formally opens the five-day Diwali festival. The occasion draws together three distinct divine associations: Goddess Lakshmi, the deity of wealth and fortune; Lord Kuber, the celestial treasurer; and Lord Dhanvantari, the physician of the gods, who is credited with bringing Ayurvedic knowledge to humanity. It is this last association — health alongside wealth — that gives the day its dual character, observed equally in homes and in medical communities.

A tradition of seasonal outreach by elected representatives

Festival greetings from senior ministers are a consistent feature of Indian public life, cutting across party lines. For Rijiju, who represents Arunachal Pradesh in Parliament and holds two Union Cabinet portfolios, such messages serve as a point of cultural connection with a nationwide constituency that extends well beyond his northeastern home state. The Diwali cluster of festivals — Dhanteras, Choti Diwali, Diwali, Govardhan Puja, and Bhai Dooj — typically draws the highest volume of such outreach from elected representatives each year.

Point of View

But they reflect a deliberate cultural visibility strategy that is especially important for leaders whose core constituencies are religiously diverse. For Rijiju, who holds the Minority Affairs portfolio alongside Parliamentary Affairs, projecting warmth on a majority Hindu festival is a calibrated act of inclusive outreach. The dual emphasis on wealth and health — mirroring Dhanvantari's prominence in the message — also resonates with the government's broader push on Ayurveda and wellness as public-health pillars. Routine as it appears, festival diplomacy on social media remains a low-cost, high-reach tool for maintaining political salience between legislative sessions.

NationPress

6 Nov 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Dhanteras and why is it celebrated?

Dhanteras is a Hindu festival observed on the thirteenth lunar day of Kartik, marking the start of Diwali. It involves the worship of Goddess Lakshmi (wealth), Lord Kuber (treasure), and Lord Dhanvantari (health), and is associated with prayers for prosperity and well-being.

Who is Kiren Rijiju?

Kiren Rijiju is a senior BJP leader from Arunachal Pradesh who serves as Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Minister of Minority Affairs in the Indian Cabinet.

Why did Kiren Rijiju mention Lord Dhanvantari in his Dhanteras message?

Lord Dhanvantari is one of the three presiding deities of Dhanteras and is revered as the divine physician who brought Ayurvedic knowledge to humanity. Dhanteras is therefore associated with both material prosperity and good health.

When did Rijiju post his Dhanteras greetings?

Rijiju posted his Dhanteras greetings on the morning of Friday, 6 November 2026 , at approximately 8:40 AM IST.

Is Dhanteras a public holiday in India?

Dhanteras is widely observed across India and is a gazetted holiday in several states, though it is not a universal central government holiday. It is one of the most commercially significant days of the Hindu calendar.