The full moon also indicates the onset of autumn, a season of plentiful harvest and cool breezes which begin to lessen the heat of a scorching post monsoon interval. Sharad Purnima heralds a dark fortnight, during which the moon, like life's own, ebb and flow, wanes till it is but a shadow of itself, an almost invisible crescent on the new moon day of Ashwin.

With the moon resplendent in the cloudy autumn sky, the people of India begin preparing for the festival of Diwali. From this full moon to the new moon, is time for the greatest shopping gala of the year. Clothes, sweets, gifts, firecrackers and jewellery decorate shop windows, and hordes of shoppers fill the streets with noise and an almost electric energy.

The first celebration of these riches -- brought home from the bazaar in cities and from farms and village markets in rural India -- marks the thirteenth day of the dark fortnight of Ashwin, Trayodashi. This is a day which precedes Diwali and is very aptly dedicated to wealth -- not necessarily material alone, but is also reminiscent of personal lustre, spiritual values and familial love.

In colloquial parlance, Dhanatrayodashi is called Dhanteras and its twinkling lights set the mood of India's greatest and most popular festival -- Diwali, the festival of lights. Dhanteras is essentially Diwali eve. The day is usually spent by most families in finishing their shopping for the festival. By the time the satiated shoppers come home, it is time to light the first lamps of Diwali and to hang up paper lanterns with festoons which send out messages of love and goodwill to all.

Dhanteras, being a festival of wealth, also means inaugurations and new purchases of expensive possessions. Many Indians set up their businesses, launch new projects, hold housewarming, set wedding dates, buy cars or jewellery on this auspicious day.

Dhanteras evening is most exciting. While the lamps flicker in the darkness and the radiance of the flames removes the darkness of sorrow and past misdeeds, Lakshmi, the goddess of luster, beauty and wealth visits every home. Outside the threshold of every home, a rangoli, alpana or floor pattern is drawn with coloured powders or a nice paste and the stylised, tiny footprints of Lakshmi are drawn in vermilion to symbolise her arrival.

Doors remain open and neighbours or communities get together to share sweets and tiny lamps. Lakshmi is such a popular deity among all Indians as the giver of plenty, the harbinger of health, wealth and happiness, that the woman of the house, or a newborn daughter is often called the Lakshmi of the home.

In southern India, on Dhanteras evening, preparations are made for a scared bath to be taken early next day -- on Narakchaturdashi. Water pots are cleaned, venerated, decorated with marigolds and mango leaves and filled with water in readiness for dawn. They are heated next morning and the hot water is used for ritual baths -- after the destruction of sins and ignorance. Typical sweets like laddus, chaklis, sakkaparas, badam halwa and various savouries are made for this evening.

In bygone days, when silver was more readily available, traders celebrated Dhanteras by throwing silver coins in their work places and giving gold coins to their family members. Many families rode in Victorias or horse drawn carriages through the gold and silver markets to see the lights and the crowds gathered in narrow, busy streets. Here, gold and silver jewellers held a veritable mela or jamboree to welcome Lakshmi.

No community worships this fickle goddess more passionately than jewellers and this is abundantly evident on Dhanteras day. Even in this age of super technology, gold markets still celebrate Dhanteras in the most gorgeous way, though the old horse carriages have been replaced by fast, sleek cars.