What Is Abhyang Snan and Why Is It Important During Diwali?

Abhyang Snan is a sacred pre-dawn bath performed on Naraka Chaturdashi, the day before Diwali. This ritual represents purification,  washing away negativity, fatigue, and past year’s impurities while inviting prosperity and positivity.

According to Hindu tradition, performing Abhyang Snan at the auspicious muhurat pleases Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Dhanvantari, ensuring good health, fortune, and divine blessings for the upcoming year.

Essential Items for Abhyang Snan: The Complete Checklist

Here’s a detailed list of everything you need to make your Abhyang Snan ritual spiritually complete and rejuvenating.

1. Herbal Ubtan (Natural Body Cleanser)

Start your sacred bath with a traditional ubtan made of gram flour, sandalwood, turmeric, and rose petals. It gently exfoliates the skin, removes dead cells, and enhances your natural glow.
Ubtan not only purifies the body but also symbolizes removing old energies and preparing for renewal.

Tip: Try Singh Cart’s herbal ubtan or create a DIY blend using chickpea flour, turmeric, milk, and rose water for a fresh start.

2. Fragrant Bath Oils (For Abhyanga Massage)

Before your bath, perform Abhyanga, a gentle body massage using warm oils like sesame, almond, or coconut. It nourishes the skin, improves circulation, and balances body energies (doshas).
The oiling process prepares the body to release toxins, offering both physical relaxation and spiritual grounding.

Recommended Oils:

• Sesame Oil: Ideal for warming and strengthening the body.
• Almond Oil: Moisturizes and enhances skin tone.
• Sandalwood or Jasmine Oil: Brings a calming, divine aroma to your bath.

3. Holy Water (Gangajal or Tulsi Water)

Mix Gangajal or Tulsi water into your bath for purification. This transforms your regular bath into a sacred cleansing experience.Holy water is believed to neutralize negative energies and invite spiritual protection and blessings.

4. Ayurvedic Soaps and Bath Powders

Use Ayurvedic soaps enriched with neem, turmeric, or sandalwood instead of synthetic ones. They cleanse deeply while maintaining your skin’s softness and natural pH balance.
Ayurvedic soaps ensure your bath stays in harmony with nature, gentle on skin, strong on cleansing.

5. Scented Diyas & Camphor (Aromatic Surrounding)

Light scented diyas or camphor near your bath area to purify the air and create a serene atmosphere. The aroma of camphor and essential oils uplifts your mood, clears energy blocks, and enhances spiritual focus.

6. Fresh Flowers and Ubtan Bowl (Ritual Setup)

Prepare a small thali with bowls of ubtan, oil, and holy water, decorated with marigold or rose petals. Offer prayers to Lord Dhanvantari before starting the ritual. Fresh flowers symbolize beauty and devotion, inviting divine grace into your space.

7. Clean Traditional Clothes & Pooja Preparation

After completing your bath, wear fresh traditional attire and light diyas in your pooja room. This marks your readiness to begin Narak Chaturdashi and the Diwali festivities. Wearing new clothes after Abhyang Snan signifies spiritual renewal and readiness to welcome Goddess Lakshmi.

Step-by-Step Ritual for Abhyang Snan

1. Wake up before sunrise during the Abhyang Snan muhurat to align with the sacred timing.
2. Offer prayers to Lord Dhanvantari, seeking health and vitality.
3. Massage your body with warm oil, starting from the head and moving downward.
4. Apply ubtan evenly over your body in gentle, circular motions.
5. Bathe with warm water infused with Tulsi leaves or rose petals.
6. Light diyas and incense to complete your ritual and begin Diwali preparations.

Spiritual Benefits of Abhyang Snan

• Removes Negativity: Clears mental and physical impurities, renewing inner energy.
• Invokes Prosperity: Welcomes Goddess Lakshmi’s blessings for wealth and happiness.
• Promotes Wellness: Balances the body’s doshas (Vata, Pitta, Kapha) for better health.
• Enhances Spirituality: Elevates your aura and connects you to divine consciousness.

Shop Abhyang Snan Essentials Online at Singh Cart

Celebrate Diwali the pure and traditional way. Singh Cart brings you authentic natural and Ayurvedic products for your Abhyang Snan ritual:

• Herbal Ubtan & Bath Powders
• Ayurvedic Oils & Massage Essentials
• Pooja Essentials for Diwali
• Scented Diyas & Camphor Products

Conclusion

Abhyang Snan is not just a bath, it’s a sacred self-care tradition that purifies, heals, and harmonizes your being. By using essentials like herbal ubtan, fragrant oils, and holy water, you align your mind, body, and soul to receive the light and abundance of Diwali.

Embrace purity and tradition this festive season with Singh Cart’s Abhyang Snan essentials, where ancient rituals meet modern wellness.

FAQs

Q1. What is the significance of Abhyang Snan before Diwali?

It purifies the body and spirit, symbolizing the cleansing of negativity before inviting Goddess Lakshmi’s blessings.

Q2. Can I perform Abhyang Snan after sunrise?

It’s traditionally done before sunrise during the muhurat to maximize spiritual benefits.

Q3. Which oil is best for Abhyang Snan?

Sesame oil is considered the most auspicious, though coconut or almond oil may also be used.

Q4. What is applied on the body during Abhyang Snan?

A natural ubtan paste made of gram flour, turmeric, and sandalwood for cleansing and radiance.

Q5. Can Abhyang Snan be done daily?

Yes, the Ayurvedic practice of Abhyanga (oil bath) can be done daily, but the Diwali ritual carries special spiritual significance.