Dhanteras 2026 — Date, Puja Muhurat, Dhanvantari Puja & What to Buy

Dhanteras (धनतेरस), also known as Dhanvantari Trayodashi or Dhan Trayodashi, marks the first day of the five-day Diwali celebration. It falls on the thirteenth lunar day (Trayodashi) of the Krishna Paksha (waning fortnight) of Kartik month — two days before the main Diwali night of Lakshmi Puja. The word "Dhanteras" combines "Dhan" (धन — wealth, treasure) and "Teras" (तेरस — the thirteenth tithi), literally meaning the auspicious thirteenth of wealth.

Dhanteras carries two primary layers of worship. The first is the veneration of Lord Dhanvantari, the divine physician who emerged from the cosmic ocean during the Samudra Manthan (churning of the celestial ocean) carrying a pot of Amrit (nectar of immortality). Dhanvantari is considered the father of Ayurveda — the ancient Indian system of medicine — and a form (avatar) of Lord Vishnu himself. On Dhanteras, devotees worship him for health, healing, and the eradication of disease. The festival is therefore also known as National Ayurveda Day in India, reflecting its deep roots in medical tradition.

The second layer is the worship of Goddess Lakshmi and Kubera, the lord of wealth. Dhanteras is considered one of the most auspicious days of the year for welcoming prosperity — a day when new purchases, especially of gold, silver, and metal utensils, carry Lakshmi's blessing for the entire year ahead. The tradition teaches that wealth acquired on Dhanteras grows thirteen-fold (a symbolism tied to the number thirteen of the Trayodashi tithi).

A third, poignant dimension of Dhanteras is the Yamadeepdaan — the lighting of a lamp facing south on the night of Dhanteras, offered to Yamraj (the god of death) with a prayer for protection from untimely death. This practice connects Dhanteras to the legend of Hema, whose son was fated to die by snakebite on the fourth day of his marriage; his devoted young wife kept him awake through the night by singing and surrounding their chamber with lamps and golden ornaments that dazzled the serpent Yamaduta when it came to take him, sending it away empty-handed. This legend gave rise to the tradition of lights and the south-facing lamp that guards the household against death for another year.

Dhanteras 2026 falls on Friday, November 6, 2026. This date is confirmed by the Kartik Krishna Paksha Trayodashi tithi of the Hindu calendar year Vikram Samvat 2083.

A notable feature of Dhanteras 2026: November 6 is also a Pradosh day — the Trayodashi tithi and Pradosh Vrat coincide, because both are observed on the 13th lunar day. When Dhanteras and Pradosh fall together, the twilight worship window is charged with both Dhanvantari's healing energy and Shiva's Pradosh energy, making the evening puja especially auspicious.

The five-day Diwali 2026 sequence: • Dhanteras — Friday, November 6 • Naraka Chaturdashi (Chhoti Diwali) — Saturday, November 7 • Diwali / Lakshmi Puja — Sunday, November 8 • Govardhan Puja (Annakut / Padwa) — Tuesday, November 10 • Bhai Dooj — Wednesday, November 11 (Kartik Amavasya continues into Monday, November 9, so Govardhan Puja and Bhai Dooj fall a day later than the usual back-to-back sequence.)

Dhanteras Puja Muhurat Windows: The panchang prescribes three puja windows on Dhanteras:

1. Dhanvantari Puja (afternoon/evening): Ideally performed during the Pradosh Kaal — the sacred twilight window starting approximately 45 minutes before sunset and extending about 1.5 hours after sunset. In New Delhi in early November, sunset falls around 5:30 PM IST, placing Pradosh Kaal from approximately 4:45 PM to 7:00 PM IST. This is also the standard Dhanteras puja window.

2. Lakshmi-Kubera Puja (evening): A second, complementary puja window falls after full darkness — approximately 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM IST. Families who cannot observe the afternoon window often perform Lakshmi-Kubera worship during this period.

3. Yamadeepdaan (night): The south-facing lamp for Yamraj is traditionally lit after dark — any time from sunset to midnight. Many families light it at the start of the puja and keep it burning through the evening.

IMPORTANT: Exact muhurat timings are location-specific and vary by city. Use a city-specific panchang app (such as Drik Panchang, mPanchang, or Prokerala) to confirm the Trayodashi window and Pradosh Kaal for your location on November 6, 2026. Families outside India should check local sunset times to adjust the puja window accordingly.

Dhanteras is one of the rare Hindu festivals with three distinct principal deities, each representing a different dimension of well-being.

Lord Dhanvantari (धन्वन्तरि) Dhanvantari is the divine physician of the gods and an avatar of Lord Vishnu. He emerged from the Milky Ocean during the Samudra Manthan holding a pot of Amrit in one hand and the Ayurveda shastra in another. He is typically depicted with four arms: holding the Shankha (conch), Chakra (discus), a pot of Amrit (nectar), and a bunch of medicinal herbs (Aushadhi). His complexion is described as resembling a dark raincloud, and he wears yellow garments and a garland of fresh flowers.

Dhanvantari is worshipped on Dhanteras for: • Healing from illness and protection from disease • Blessings on Ayurvedic practitioners, physicians, and healers • Recovery of good health for family members • The removal of suffering caused by chronic ailments

His primary mantra: "Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya Dhanvantaraye Amrita-Kalasha Hastaya Sarva-Amaya Vinashanaya Trailokyanathaya Sri Maha-Vishnave Namaha."

Kubera (कुबेर) Kubera is the lord of wealth and treasurer of the gods (Yaksharaja and Lokapala of the north). He rules over all earthly treasures, including gold, silver, jewels, and material abundance. Kubera is worshipped alongside Lakshmi on Dhanteras as the co-presiding deity of financial prosperity. He is typically depicted as a stout figure with a pot of gold, a mongoose spitting gems, and ornaments of great richness. His bija mantra is "Om Yakshaya Kuberaya Vaishravanaya Dhana-Dhanyadi Pataye / Dhana Dhanya Samriddhim Me Dehi Dapaya Svaha."

Goddess Lakshmi (लक्ष्मी) The goddess of wealth, fortune, and auspiciousness is the third principal deity on Dhanteras. While her main worship occurs on Diwali night (the Amavasya two days later), devotees begin invoking her presence on Dhanteras. The puja on Dhanteras evening, with lamps lit at the entrance, is intended to welcome Lakshmi into the home in preparation for Diwali. According to tradition, Lakshmi visits homes that are clean, luminous, and where the sound of devotional singing (bhajan) can be heard — all of which Dhanteras preparations create.

In many regions, especially North India, the Dhanteras evening puja also includes a brief worship of Ganesha as the remover of obstacles, followed by the invocation of Dhanvantari, Kubera, and Lakshmi in sequence.

Dhanteras puja is best performed during the Pradosh Kaal (evening twilight window). Here is the complete step-by-step procedure:

Preparation (afternoon): • Clean the puja area and the entire home thoroughly. Remove old and broken items. Clean the main entrance and draw a fresh rangoli pattern using colored powders, marigold petals, or rice flour. • Arrange the puja platform (chowki) with a clean yellow or red cloth. Place the images or small brass/silver idols of Lord Dhanvantari, Kubera, and Goddess Lakshmi (with Ganesha beside her). • Gather puja materials: incense sticks, camphor (Kapoor), ghee lamp (deep), 13 oil wicks or small diyas, Panchamrit (milk, yogurt, honey, ghee, sugar), akshat (unbroken rice grains), turmeric, vermillion (kumkum), flowers (preferably lotus, marigold, and white flowers), betel leaves and nuts, fruits, and sweets (especially kheel-batasha — puffed rice and sugar drops — the traditional Dhanteras Naivedyam). • Place new gold, silver, or metal objects you have purchased for Dhanteras on the puja cloth to be blessed.

Puja Procedure: 1. Invoke Ganesha first: Light a ghee lamp and incense. Offer turmeric, a flower, and modak to Ganesha while chanting "Om Gan Ganapataye Namah" (at least 21 times).

2. Dhanvantari Puja: Perform a brief Panchamrit Abhishekam or offer Panchamrit symbolically (by placing the vessel before the idol). Offer flowers, akshat, and incense to Dhanvantari. Chant his mantra: "Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya Dhanvantaraye Amrita-Kalasha Hastaya Sarva-Amaya Vinashanaya Trailokyanathaya Sri Maha-Vishnave Namaha" (at least 11 times). Pray specifically for the health and healing of all family members.

3. Kubera Puja: Offer coins, akshat, and a flower to the Kubera image or his yantra. Chant "Om Yakshaya Kuberaya Vaishravanaya Dhana-Dhanyadi Pataye / Dhana Dhanya Samriddhim Me Dehi Dapaya Svaha" (at least 11 times). Place your new gold or silver ornaments before Kubera during this puja for a full-year blessing.

4. Lakshmi Puja: Offer lotus flowers or marigolds, red kumkum, and kheel-batasha to Goddess Lakshmi while chanting "Om Shreem Mahalakshmiyei Namah" (at least 108 times). Recite the Lakshmi Stotram or sing the Lakshmi Aarti. Offer the lit ghee lamp in clockwise circles before the deity.

5. Light the 13 Diyas: The tradition of Dhanteras prescribes lighting 13 earthen diyas with mustard oil or sesame oil. These 13 diyas — one for each day of the Krishna Paksha leading to the Amavasya — are placed at the main entrance, near the Tulsi plant, in the kitchen, in all rooms, and at the threshold of the home. The number 13 mirrors the Trayodashi tithi and is considered highly auspicious for prosperity.

6. Yamadeepdaan: After the main puja, light a single earthen diya and place it facing south (not facing the house, but facing outward, toward the south — the direction governed by Yamraj). This south-facing diya is offered with a prayer for protection from untimely death for all family members for the coming year. It is kept lit for the evening and allowed to burn out naturally. Important: this is a protective offering, not a death-associated ritual — it is performed with gratitude and confidence, not fear.

7. Aarti and Prasad: Conclude with a full aarti to all three deities. Distribute prasad — especially kheel-batasha and fruits — to all family members. Keep a portion for any neighbors or visitors.

Temple Visits: Visiting a Dhanvantari temple or any Vishnu/Lakshmi temple on Dhanteras morning is considered especially auspicious. In cities like Udaipur, Thrissur, and Vrindavan, Dhanvantari temples hold special abhishekam and archana from early morning. Many Ayurveda clinics and pharmaceutical companies perform Dhanvantari Puja on this day to honor the patron deity of medicine.

The Dhanteras shopping tradition is one of the most distinctive aspects of this festival and has deep spiritual grounding in the Hindu philosophy of auspicious acquisition. Purchasing items on Dhanteras is not mere custom — it is considered an act of welcoming Lakshmi and Dhanvantari's blessings in tangible form. The tradition holds that new items bought on Dhanteras bring prosperity and good health for the coming year, and that wealth multiplies thirteen-fold (in line with the 13th-tithi significance).

What to Buy on Dhanteras:

Gold and Silver Jewelry: Purchasing gold or silver on Dhanteras is the most widely observed tradition, particularly in North India, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra. Even small gold or silver coins (Lakshmi coins, Ganesha coins, or Dhanvantari coins) are considered highly auspicious. The act of buying precious metal symbolizes the invitation of Lakshmi into the household in her most enduring form.

Silverware and Utensils: Buying new silver, stainless steel, or brass utensils is a time-honored tradition — considered especially auspicious because metal utensils are associated with both Dhanvantari (whose pot of Amrit is the original divine vessel) and with Kubera's domain of material wealth. Silver puja items (such as a small Lakshmi idol, a Shankha, or a puja thali) bought on Dhanteras are believed to carry potent blessings.

New Brooms: In many parts of North India, purchasing a new broom (jhadu) on Dhanteras is traditional. The broom symbolizes sweeping away poverty, negativity, and obstacles to welcome Lakshmi. The new broom is first used to sweep the home before the Dhanteras puja and then respectfully set aside and not touched again until after Diwali.

Electronics and Appliances: In the modern era, many families choose Dhanteras for major purchases like smartphones, laptops, televisions, refrigerators, or washing machines. This is considered an appropriate extension of the auspicious-acquisition tradition, especially for items that support family well-being and productivity.

Vehicles: Dhanteras has become one of the biggest days of the year for automobile purchases in India. Purchasing a new vehicle — especially a motorcycle or car — on Dhanteras for the first time and having it blessed (puja performed with coconut-breaking, tilak, and a garland) is believed to protect the vehicle and its occupants throughout the year.

New Clothes: Buying new clothes to wear on Diwali night begins with Dhanteras. These are typically auspicious colors — red, yellow, golden, or saffron — associated with Lakshmi and prosperity.

Ayurvedic Products: In keeping with the Dhanvantari dimension of Dhanteras, purchasing quality Ayurvedic medicines, herbs, or health supplements on this day is considered a modern expression of gratitude toward the divine physician. Many Ayurveda practitioners recommend buying your yearly stock of key herbs and tonics on Dhanteras as an act of devotion.

What NOT to Buy on Dhanteras: Certain purchases are traditionally avoided. Iron items (including iron pans and vessels) are considered inauspicious on Dhanteras in many traditions. Scissors, knives, and other sharp implements are generally avoided. Plastic items and items made of synthetic materials have no traditional blessing associated with them. Oil (taila) is also specifically avoided as a purchase on this day — though it is used in diyas and lamps that you have already stocked.

Dhanteras Shopping Muhurat 2026: The entire day of November 6 is auspicious for purchases, but the most auspicious shopping window falls during the Pradosh Kaal — roughly 4:30 PM to 7:00 PM IST — when the Trayodashi tithi is fully active alongside the Pradosh energy. Buying gold or silver during this window is considered especially potent. The early morning hours after sunrise are also considered auspicious. Check your local panchang for any specific Choghadiya muhurat falling within November 6 for the most precise timing.

Dhanteras is celebrated across India with remarkable regional variations that reflect the subcontinent's diversity of customs, languages, and local legends.

North India (UP, Bihar, Delhi, Rajasthan): North Indian celebrations are perhaps the most elaborate, combining Dhanvantari Puja, Kubera Puja, Lakshmi Puja, the 13-diyas tradition, and the Yamadeepdaan in a single extended evening ceremony. Markets in cities like Varanasi, Jaipur, Lucknow, and Delhi stay open through midnight on Dhanteras as families complete their gold and utensil purchases. The sound of drumming (dhol) and devotional songs can be heard in neighborhoods throughout the evening. In Varanasi, Dhanteras is observed with special Lakshmi puja at the famous Darbhanga Ghat and at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple area.

Western India (Gujarat, Maharashtra): In Gujarat, Dhanteras is closely tied to the Chopda Pujan tradition — the worship of business account books — which reaches its peak on the new Gujarati financial year (Diwali day), but begins with Dhanteras as the opening of the auspicious period. Gujarati merchants traditionally open new account books on Dhanteras and begin recording entries with the word "Shubh Labh" (auspicious profit). In Maharashtra, Dhanteras preparations focus on cleaning the house, buying new utensils (particularly silver items), and the first lighting of the Akash Kandil (decorative lanterns hung at doorways during Diwali).

South India (Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala): Dhanteras is observed somewhat differently in South India, where the festival is less prominent on its own and more continuous with the broader Karthigai (Kartik) month celebrations. In Tamil Nadu, the period is associated with Karthigai Deepam — the festival of lamps — and lighting diyas and lamps carries a slightly different mythological narrative. In Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Dhanteras is observed as Dhana Trayodashi with Lakshmi and Kubera worship, and gold purchases are equally important. In Kerala, where Onam is the primary harvest festival, Dhanteras is observed more quietly, centered on temple visits and family prayers.

Eastern India (West Bengal, Odisha): In West Bengal, Dhanteras falls within the larger Kali Puja-Diwali season, but is treated as a distinct day for Lakshmi worship and the purchase of new vessels. In Odisha, the day is observed as "Dhana Dwadashi" or "Dhanteras" depending on local custom, with a focus on cleaning vessels and purchasing earthen pots.

Diaspora Celebrations: In the Indian diaspora — particularly in the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, and East Africa — Dhanteras is celebrated with community events, temple pujas, and the collective purchase of gold and silver. In many diaspora communities, Dhanteras has become the occasion for an annual family "Diwali shopping outing" — a day when families visit Indian jewelry stores and sweet shops together, combining the auspicious purchase with social connection.

Yamadeepdaan — The South-Facing Lamp: Across all regional traditions, the one ritual that is nearly universal is the Yamadeepdaan — the earthen lamp placed facing south at the main entrance of the home after dark. This lamp is offered to Yamraj with the prayer: "Yamraj, I honor you with this light and ask for protection from untimely death for all members of this household." The prayer is completed and the lamp is allowed to burn fully. The Yamadeepdaan reminds devotees that even as they celebrate prosperity, they hold gratitude for the gift of life and seek protection for those they love.