List For Dhanteras

Worksheet Description

This worksheet focuses on ‘Dhanteras,’ an integral part of the Diwali festival, and is designed to deepen students’ understanding of its significance through a fill-in-the-blank exercise. The word box at the top provides terms such as “Dhanteras,” “wealth,” “purchasing,” “day,” “first,” “metal,” “luck,” “energy,” and “Sanskrit,” which are to be used to complete the sentences in the paragraph below. These terms are central to the themes and traditions of Dhanteras, making this exercise both an educational and reflective task on the cultural practices associated with Diwali.

The worksheet guides students to recognize Dhanteras as the first day of the five-day Hindu festival Diwali, known as the Festival of Lights. It asks students to analyze the etymology of the word ‘Dhanteras’ in Sanskrit, relating ‘dhan’ to wealth and ‘teras’ to the 13th day of the lunar fortnight in the Hindu calendar. Furthermore, students are prompted to list items that are traditionally purchased on Dhanteras, such as metal objects, which are believed to bring good luck and prosperity. This activity not only teaches vocabulary related to the festival but also encourages students to engage with the cultural beliefs and practices that define the celebration of Dhanteras and Diwali at large.