Festival · 2026
Dhanteras 2026 — Friday, 6 November 2026
Dhanteras opens the five days of Diwali on the thirteenth day of the waning moon, with a lamp for Yama and prayers to Dhanvantari and Lakshmi.
In 2026
Friday, 6 November 2026
- Tithi
- Krishna Trayodashi (Krishna): 6 Nov, 10:31 AM – 7 Nov, 10:48 AM
- Lunar month
- Kartika (purnimanta) / Ashvin (amanta)
- Sunrise / sunset
- 6:36 AM / 5:32 PM
| Puja muhurat | 5:32 PM – 8:09 PM |
|---|---|
| Pradosh kaal | 5:32 PM – 8:09 PM |
| Lakshmi Puja muhurat | 6:02 PM – 7:58 PM |
| Pradosh kaal | 5:32 PM – 8:09 PM |
| Vrishabha lagna | 6:02 PM – 7:58 PM |
Rule: Kartika Krishna Trayodashi (Ashvin in the amanta reckoning) prevailing at pradosh, the first fifth of the night.
In 2027
Wednesday, 27 October 2027
- Tithi
- Krishna Trayodashi (Krishna): 27 Oct, 1:03 AM – 27 Oct, 10:50 PM
- Lunar month
- Kartika (purnimanta) / Ashvin (amanta)
- Sunrise / sunset
- 6:29 AM / 5:40 PM
| Puja muhurat | 5:40 PM – 8:14 PM |
|---|---|
| Pradosh kaal | 5:40 PM – 8:14 PM |
| Lakshmi Puja muhurat | 6:42 PM – 8:14 PM |
| Pradosh kaal | 5:40 PM – 8:14 PM |
| Vrishabha lagna | 6:42 PM – 8:38 PM |
Rule: Kartika Krishna Trayodashi (Ashvin in the amanta reckoning) prevailing at pradosh, the first fifth of the night.
Times follow New Delhi’s sunrise and sunset. In other cities the muhurat shifts by some minutes, and occasionally the day by one. Full festival calendar
What is Dhanteras?
Dhanteras, also called Dhanatrayodashi, falls on Trayodashi, the thirteenth day of the waning moon of Kartika (Ashvin in the amanta count), usually two days before Diwali. It begins the five days of the festival. Homes are cleaned, doorways are decorated with rangoli and small footprints of Lakshmi, and in the evening lamps are lit and Lakshmi, Kubera and Ganesha are worshipped.
The day is also Dhanvantari Jayanti. Tradition holds that during the churning of the ocean, Dhanvantari, the physician of the gods and the patron of Ayurveda, emerged carrying a pot of amrit. For this reason many Ayurvedic practitioners honour him with a puja, and many families pray on this day for good health. The dhan in Dhanteras is read by some as wealth and by others as the wealth of health.
A story tells of a young prince fated to die on the fourth night of his marriage. His wife lit lamps everywhere, piled her jewellery at the door and told stories all night, and Yama, arriving as a serpent, was dazzled and turned back. From this comes Yama deepdaan, a lamp placed facing south in the evening for the long life of the family. Buying a new metal utensil or a little gold or silver is a custom of welcoming prosperity.
How it is observed
- The home is cleaned and decorated, with rangoli and Lakshmi’s footprints at the entrance.
- In the evening, during the puja muhurat, Lakshmi, Kubera and Dhanvantari are worshipped.
- A four-wicked lamp is lit for Yama and placed outside, facing south: the Yama deepdaan.
- Many families buy a new utensil, a small coin of gold or silver, or a broom, as a customary welcome to prosperity; nothing expensive is required.
- Ayurvedic practitioners and many households honour Dhanvantari and pray for good health.
- Traders in some regions clean and worship their cash boxes and places of business.
How the date is fixed
Dhanteras is Krishna Paksha Trayodashi of Kartika (Ashvin in the amanta reckoning). Our engine keeps it on the day Trayodashi prevails during pradosh, the evening period that begins at sunset. The puja muhurat is where three things overlap: pradosh, the Vrishabha lagna (a fixed sign, which tradition prefers so that the prosperity welcomed stays) and the Trayodashi tithi itself.
Where practice differs
In Maharashtra the day before Dhanteras is Vasu Baras, when cows and calves are honoured, and Dhanteras itself is often kept as Dhanvantari puja. In much of the south the festival season centres on Naraka Chaturdashi rather than Dhanteras, though buying gold on this day has spread widely. The month is Kartika in the northern reckoning and Ashvin in the amanta reckoning of the west and south; the day is the same.
Dates and times are computed by our own engine (sunrise, tithi and kalas for New Delhi, Lahiri ayanamsa). In another city, or in an almanac of another tradition, the day can differ by one — follow your family’s tradition.
Questions people ask
What should one buy on Dhanteras?
By custom, a metal utensil, a small coin of gold or silver, or even a broom. It is a gesture of welcoming prosperity, and nothing expensive is needed.
What is Yama deepdaan?
A lamp lit on Dhanteras evening and placed outside facing south for the long life of the family, recalling the story of the prince saved by his wife’s lamps.
Why is Dhanteras puja done in Vrishabha lagna?
Vrishabha is a fixed sign, and tradition prefers a fixed lagna so that the prosperity welcomed stays. The muhurat is where pradosh, Vrishabha lagna and Trayodashi overlap.