Dhanteras 2026: Date, Puja Muhurat, What to Buy and Significance
Dhanteras, also called Dhantrayodashi, is the first day of the five-day Diwali festival. In 2026, Dhanteras falls on Friday, 6 November, on the thirteenth day (Trayodashi) of the waning moon in Kartika. Families worship Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Kubera in the evening for wealth and prosperity, honour Lord Dhanvantari, the god of Ayurveda, and buy gold, silver or new utensils, since purchases made on this day are believed to bring good fortune for the year ahead.
When Is Dhanteras in 2026?
Dhanteras 2026 is on Friday, 6 November 2026. It is observed on Trayodashi, the thirteenth day of the dark fortnight (Krishna Paksha), of Kartika in the purnimanta calendar used in North India. In the amanta calendar used in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, the same day is counted as Ashwina Krishna Trayodashi, but the date, 6 November 2026, is the same. Dhanteras opens the Diwali festival, which continues with Choti Diwali on Saturday, 7 November, Diwali itself on Sunday, 8 November, Govardhan Puja on Tuesday, 10 November, and Bhai Dooj on Wednesday, 11 November.
Dhanteras 2026 Date and Puja Muhurat
The timings below follow the India (IST) reference published by Drik Panchang. Evening timings shift from city to city because sunset and the Vrishabha Lagna change with location, so check a local panchang for your exact timings.
| Event | Date and Time (IST) |
|---|---|
| Dhanteras (Dhantrayodashi) | Friday, 6 November 2026 |
| Hindu date | Kartika Krishna Trayodashi (Ashwina Krishna Trayodashi in amanta regions) |
| Also known as | Dhantrayodashi, Dhan Trayodashi, Dhanvantari Jayanti |
| Trayodashi tithi begins | 10:30 AM, Friday, 6 November 2026 |
| Trayodashi tithi ends | 10:47 AM, Saturday, 7 November 2026 |
| Dhanteras puja muhurat (New Delhi) | 6:02 PM to 7:57 PM, Friday, 6 November 2026 |
| Pradosh Kaal (New Delhi) | 5:33 PM to 8:09 PM, Friday, 6 November 2026 |
| Vrishabha Kaal (New Delhi) | 6:02 PM to 7:57 PM, Friday, 6 November 2026 |
| Desi date | 21 Kattak, 2083 BS (Kattak runs 17 October to 15 November 2026) |
Dhanteras Puja Muhurat in Indian Cities
The evening puja should be done during Pradosh Kaal, after sunset, while Trayodashi is running and during the Vrishabha Lagna. Because sunset times differ, the muhurat window is different in each city.
| City | Dhanteras Puja Muhurat (IST) |
|---|---|
| New Delhi | 6:02 PM to 7:57 PM |
| Kolkata | 5:28 PM to 7:26 PM |
| Hyderabad | 6:15 PM to 8:13 PM |
| Mumbai | 6:35 PM to 8:35 PM |
Note: these are Drik Panchang timings for Friday, 6 November 2026. Check a local panchang if your city is not listed.
What Is Dhanteras?
The name comes from Dhan, meaning wealth, and Teras, meaning thirteen, the thirteenth lunar day. According to tradition, Dhanteras marks two beginnings. On this day, Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, and Lord Kubera, the treasurer of the gods, are worshipped for prosperity in the home. It is also Dhanvantari Jayanti, the birth anniversary of Lord Dhanvantari, the god of Ayurveda, who is said to have emerged from the churning of the ocean (Samudra Manthan) carrying a pot of Amrit, the nectar of immortality.
Because of this, Dhanteras is both a festival of wealth and a festival of health. People pray for prosperity and for freedom from disease in the same evening, and many families light a lamp for Yama, the god of death, outside the home, a ritual called Yama Deepam, for protection from untimely death.
How Is Dhanteras Observed?
The observance is simple and is done at home in the evening. Practices vary by family and region, so follow your family tradition.
Clean and decorate the home: Clean the house in the morning, place rangoli at the entrance, and light diyas in the evening to welcome Goddess Lakshmi.
Buy something new: Buying gold, silver, a new utensil, or a broom is considered auspicious on Dhanteras. Gold and silver coins, jewellery, and brass, copper or silver utensils are the most common purchases. Avoid buying iron or sharp objects, which many families consider inauspicious on this day.
Evening puja: During the muhurat, worship Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Kubera with flowers, incense, lamps, sweets and coins. Lord Ganesha is worshipped first, as in most Hindu pujas. Offer the new purchases at the puja before using them.
Dhanvantari puja: Some families also worship Lord Dhanvantari and pray for the health of the family.
Yama Deepam: Light a lamp with four wicks outside the home, facing south, in the evening for Yama, and pray for the long life and health of the family.
The Five Days of Diwali 2026
Dhanteras is day one of five. The full festival runs as follows.
| Day | Festival | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Dhanteras (Dhantrayodashi) | Friday, 6 November 2026 |
| Day 2 | Choti Diwali (Naraka Chaturdashi) | Saturday, 7 November 2026 |
| Day 3 | Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) | Sunday, 8 November 2026 |
| Day 4 | Govardhan Puja (Annakut) | Tuesday, 10 November 2026 |
| Day 5 | Bhai Dooj | Wednesday, 11 November 2026 |
Note: Govardhan Puja is observed on Tuesday, 10 November in North India, because Pratipada is in force at sunrise that day. Some regional calendars observe it on the evening of Monday, 9 November. See our Diwali 2026 guide for the main festival and our Bhai Dooj 2026 guide for the fifth day.
Dhanteras Dates in Coming Years
| Year | Day | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Friday | 6 November 2026 |
| 2027 | Wednesday | 27 October 2027 |
Note: the 2027 date is the India reckoning from Drik Panchang (New Delhi). Some listings outside India give Tuesday, 26 October 2027, so confirm the 2027 date with a local panchang closer to the time.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Dhanteras in 2026?
Dhanteras 2026 falls on Friday, 6 November 2026. It is observed on Kartika Krishna Trayodashi, the thirteenth day of the waning moon.
What is the Dhanteras 2026 puja muhurat?
In New Delhi, the Dhanteras puja muhurat is 6:02 PM to 7:57 PM IST on Friday, 6 November 2026, inside Pradosh Kaal (5:33 PM to 8:09 PM). Timings vary by city, so check a local panchang for your city.
What is Dhanteras?
Dhanteras, also called Dhantrayodashi, is the first day of the five-day Diwali festival. Families worship Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Kubera for wealth and prosperity, and honour Lord Dhanvantari, the god of Ayurveda, whose birth anniversary falls on the same day.
What should I buy on Dhanteras?
Gold, silver, jewellery, and new utensils, especially brass, copper or silver, are considered auspicious on Dhanteras. A new broom is also traditionally bought on this day. Many families avoid buying iron or sharp objects.
What is Yama Deepam on Dhanteras?
Yama Deepam is a lamp lit outside the home in the evening on Dhanteras for Yama, the god of death, to pray for protection from untimely death and for the long life and health of the family.
When is Dhanteras in 2027?
Dhanteras in 2027 falls on Wednesday, 27 October 2027, in the India reckoning from Drik Panchang. Some listings outside India give Tuesday, 26 October 2027, so confirm the date with a local panchang closer to the time.
