The scene on Dhanteras evening is the same in every market. Next to the jeweller’s glass counter, a vendor sits on the footpath with a pile of jhadus. There are phool jhadus, coconut-stick ones and a few bright plastic ones. Somehow he sells out almost as fast as the gold shop. Someone visiting from abroad would find it strange. But for most Indian homes, a broom on Dhanteras matters as much as a silver coin. The jhadu is seen as Lakshmi herself.
Why a Jhadu Means Lakshmi
Ask any grandmother and she’ll tell you not to touch the jhadu with your foot. Kids get scolded for stepping over it. And if it’s kicked by mistake, many people touch it and then touch their forehead, the way they would after bumping into a book.The logic is easy to follow. Lakshmi stays where the house is clean and lit. Dust and darkness push her away. The broom is what makes a home fit for her, so it carries a bit of her presence.Her elder sister comes into this too. Alakshmi, also known as Jyeshtha, is the goddess of bad luck. She settles wherever there’s dirt and constant fighting. Every sweep pushes her out the door so the younger sister can walk in.
Why the Purchase Happens on Dhanteras
Dhanteras is the day Lakshmi is formally invited into the house, so a new broom fits right in. It says the old poverty and bad luck are being swept out and fresh money is welcome.The other reason is simpler. A jhadu costs fifty or a hundred rupees. A daily-wage worker and a factory owner can follow the same custom on the same day. That’s probably why the practice never faded.This year Dhanteras is Friday, 6 November. Buy the broom any time after Trayodashi begins, at around 10:30 AM. Try to bring it home before the evening puja.
Puja for the New Broom
Don’t start sweeping with it the moment you get home. First it gets worshipped.Keep it near the puja corner during the evening Lakshmi-Kubera puja. Put a small tilak of haldi and kumkum on the handle and tie a red mauli thread around it. A few grains of akshat can be offered too. Once the aarti is done, put it aside. Some homes use it from Saturday, while others wait till after Diwali.Buy one or three. Odd numbers are considered lucky. If the budget allows, get an extra one and give it the next day to the sweeper who cleans your lane, or to a temple.
House Rules for the Jhadu
Don’t step on it, and don’t kick it.Keep it lying flat and hidden, not standing up against a wall. Behind a door works, or inside a utility cupboard. In Vastu, the west or south-west side of the house is the best spot. Keep it away from the kitchen and the puja room.Avoid sweeping after sunset. Evening is when Lakshmi is believed to come visiting. Sweeping then sends her right back out.And never use it to hit anyone, child or stray dog. It’s a sacred object in the house.
Saying Goodbye to the Old One
The old broom shouldn’t be tossed out in a hurry. Saturday or Amavasya is the right day to let it go. That makes Saturday, 7 November, a good option this year. Avoid Thursday and Friday, since those belong to Jupiter and Venus. Put it neatly in the dustbin instead of throwing it on the road.Plenty of families just shift the old broom to the balcony or the parking area. The new one stays inside the house.