Dhanteras is celebrated on the thirteenth lunar day of Krishna Paksha ("dark fortnight" in the moon's cycle) in the Vikram Samvat Hindu calendar month of Ashwin. Dhanvantari, who is also worshipped on Dhanteras, is the god of Ayurveda who brought and shared the wisdom of Ayurveda for the betterment of mankind and to bring relief from the suffering of disease with Ayurvedic remedies.