Dhanteras 2026 muhurat falls on Friday, 6 November 2026, and the evening puja window in New Delhi runs from 6:02 PM to 7:57 PM. Dhanteras, also called Dhantrayodashi, opens the five-day Diwali festival, and it is the day families worship Lord Dhanvantari, Goddess Lakshmi, and Lord Kubera, light rows of diyas, and buy gold, silver, or new utensils. This guide gives you the exact timings, the story behind the festival, the puja steps, and what to buy — and what to skip.
Last updated: 6 November 2026
Quick answer: Dhanteras 2026 is on Friday, 6 November. In New Delhi, the puja muhurat is 6:02–7:57 PM, inside Pradosh Kaal (5:33–8:09 PM). Trayodashi Tithi runs from 10:30 AM on 6 November to 10:47 AM on 7 November. Light diyas in the evening, worship Dhanvantari, Lakshmi, and Kubera, and light a Yama Deepam outside the door.
Dhanteras 2026 Muhurat at a Glance
- Friday, 6 November 2026 is the date of Dhanteras (Dhantrayodashi).
- 10:30 AM, 6 November is when Trayodashi Tithi begins.
- 10:47 AM, 7 November is when Trayodashi Tithi ends.
- 5:33 PM – 8:09 PM is Pradosh Kaal in New Delhi.
- 6:02 PM – 7:57 PM is the Dhanteras puja muhurat (Vrishabha Kaal) in New Delhi.
- Evening, 6 November is when Yama Deepam is lit outside the home.
- Sunday, 8 November 2026 is Diwali (Lakshmi Puja), two days later.
What Is Dhanteras?
Dhanteras is the first day of the five-day Diwali festival. Its name comes from two words: “Dhan”, meaning wealth, and “Teras”, meaning the thirteenth day. The festival falls on Trayodashi, the thirteenth day of Krishna Paksha (the waning phase of the moon) in the Hindu month of Kartik. On this day, tradition holds that Lord Dhanvantari, the god of Ayurveda and healing, emerged during the churning of the cosmic ocean carrying a pot of amrit, the nectar of immortality. That is why Dhanteras is also observed as Dhanvantari Jayanti, a day tied to health as much as to wealth.
Three deities sit at the heart of the day. Dhanvantari stands for health and healing. Goddess Lakshmi stands for wealth and good fortune. Lord Kubera, the treasurer of the gods, stands for the safe keeping of that wealth. Families clean their homes, decorate entrances with rangoli and marigolds, light diyas, and buy something new — most often gold, silver, or a utensil — as a way of inviting health and prosperity in for the year ahead. The buying is a custom, not a guarantee: no purchase can promise wealth or health, and the day works just as well on a small budget.
What Is the Dhanteras 2026 Muhurat in Delhi?
For New Delhi, the Dhanteras 2026 muhurat is 6:02 PM to 7:57 PM on Friday, 6 November, according to Drik Panchang. That window is the overlap of two periods. Pradosh Kaal, the twilight period after sunset, runs from 5:33 PM to 8:09 PM. Vrishabha Kaal, the period when the fixed sign Taurus is rising, runs from 6:02 PM to 7:57 PM. The puja is done inside that overlap, because a fixed sign is held to keep the blessings of the puja steady in the home.
Timings shift by city, so the Delhi window is a reference, not a rule for everywhere. In Mumbai, for instance, the same panchang gives a muhurat of 6:36 PM to 8:34 PM. If you live outside Delhi, check your city panchang before the evening and plan to be ready a little before your local window opens, rather than starting right at its end. The 6:02 PM start in Delhi is also the moment to begin the Lakshmi-Kubera puja, not the moment to start setting up.
Dhanteras 2026 Muhurat in Major Cities
The table below lists the Dhanteras 2026 muhurat for a few major cities, all from Drik Panchang. The window moves by up to two hours across India, which is why a Delhi time should never be used as-is in another city.
| City | Dhanteras Puja Muhurat (6 Nov 2026) |
|---|---|
| New Delhi | 6:02 PM – 7:57 PM |
| Mumbai | 6:36 PM – 8:34 PM |
| Pune | 6:32 PM – 8:31 PM |
| Bhilwara | 6:18 PM – 8:15 PM |
| Kota | 5:53 PM – 7:52 PM |
| Diphu | 5:02 PM – 6:59 PM |
Why Is Dhanteras Celebrated?
The best-known story behind Dhanteras comes from the Samudra Manthan, the churning of the cosmic ocean by gods and demons. As the story goes, the ocean gave up many treasures, and one of them was Dhanvantari, the physician of the gods, holding a pot of amrit. His arrival on Trayodashi is the reason the day honours health first: wealth without health, the story suggests, is of little use. That is also why many Ayurvedic practitioners mark the day as their own festival.
A second story explains Yama Deepam, the lamp lit outside the home on Dhanteras evening. In the legend, a young prince was fated to die from a snake bite on the fourth day of his marriage. His wife kept him awake through the night, placed piles of gold and silver coins and ornaments by the door, and lit lamps all around them. When Yama, the god of death, arrived, the blaze of light and gold held him at the threshold until morning, and the prince lived.
Families still light a lamp outside the main door on Dhanteras night, facing south, in memory of that story. It is told as a legend, not as a recorded event — but the lamp itself is very real, and it is one of the oldest customs of the night.
What Should You Buy on Dhanteras?
Gold tops the list for most families: a coin, a small piece of jewellery, or even a gram of gold kept for the year. Silver runs second, often as coins, utensils, or an idol. Brass and copper utensils are the old standby, and they are still the most common buy in many homes. A new broom is another classic purchase, since the broom stands for sweeping out old troubles. Coriander seeds, bought on Dhanteras and sown in a pot, are kept as a sign of a growing harvest. Gomti chakra stones, small spiral shells from the Gomti river, are kept in the puja room or the cash box as a charm for steady money.
Modern shopping has added electronics, vehicles, and home appliances to the list, and dealers run Dhanteras offers on all of them. The sensible rule is the same as ever: buy what you need, within your budget, and keep the receipt. A gold coin bought on credit and worried over for months does not bring peace of mind. A small silver coin or a brass diya bought happily does the job the day asks for, which is to mark a fresh start.
How to Do Dhanteras Puja at Home
The day starts with cleaning. Homes are swept, washed, and cleared of clutter before evening, since the custom is that Lakshmi visits clean, lit homes. If you are doing a deeper clean, the salt-water floor wash many families use is covered in our guide to salt in the corners of a room overnight. By late afternoon, the entrance is decorated with rangoli and marigolds, and diyas are set out along the doorway and windows.
For the puja itself, set up a clean platform with idols or images of Lakshmi and Kubera, a kalash filled with water, coins, and a coconut, plus the thali with kumkum, rice, flowers, and a lit diya. Begin inside the Dhanteras 2026 muhurat window — 6:02 PM in Delhi — with a short prayer to Dhanvantari for health, then Lakshmi and Kubera for wealth. Offer flowers and sweets, read or listen to the Dhanteras story, and end with aarti.
After the indoor puja, step outside and light the Yama Deepam: one earthen lamp placed just outside the main door, facing south, left burning through the night. Many families light thirteen diyas in all — one for Yama and twelve for the months of the year. If you like to set an intention for the year ahead as part of the evening, our new moon rituals guide has a simple way to write one down and keep it.
Dhanteras Puja Samagri: What You Need
Keep the shopping list short, and gather it before the evening so nothing is missing mid-puja. The usual samagri is: idols or framed images of Lakshmi and Kubera; a kalash with water, mango leaves, and a coconut; coins or a small gold or silver item; kumkum, turmeric, and akshat (unbroken rice); marigold flowers and a garland; a ghee diya with cotton wicks; incense sticks and camphor; sweets and fruits for prasad; and a new broom for the home.
Coriander seeds and Gomti chakra go on the thali if your family keeps them. Everything on this list is easy to find in a local market on the day itself, and none of it needs to be costly.
Dhanteras vs Diwali: What Is the Difference?
People often mix the two up, since both fall in the same week and both honour Lakshmi. The table below keeps them straight.
| Dhanteras | Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) | |
|---|---|---|
| Date in 2026 | Friday, 6 November | Sunday, 8 November |
| Day of the festival | Day 1 of the five-day Diwali festival | Day 3, the main day |
| Main deities | Dhanvantari, Lakshmi, Kubera | Lakshmi and Ganesha |
| Main custom | Buying gold, silver, or utensils | Lakshmi-Ganesh puja, fireworks, sweets |
| Key lamp | Yama Deepam outside the door | Diyas in every window and doorway |
| Story | Dhanvantari and the amrit; the prince and Yama | Rama’s return to Ayodhya; Lakshmi’s visit |
The two days also feel different. Dhanteras is a shopping and preparation day, busy in the markets and quiet at home until evening. Diwali is the celebration itself, with the whole house lit and the family gathered. Knowing the difference matters most for the muhurat: the Dhanteras 2026 muhurat window on 6 November is not the Diwali Lakshmi Puja window on 8 November, and the two should not be confused.
What Should You Avoid on Dhanteras?
Custom has a short list of things people avoid on the day. Sharp objects — knives, scissors, needles — are not bought or gifted, since they are held to cut good fortune. Iron items are avoided for the same reason. Money is not lent out on Dhanteras, and debts are settled before the evening if possible. Utensils bought on the day are not brought home empty: the custom is to fill them with water, rice, or sweets first. And the home is not left dark in the evening — at least one diya burns at the entrance, even in a small flat.
None of this is a rule with a penalty attached. It is a set of customs people follow because the day is about welcoming things in, not sending them out. If you miss one, the evening still counts: a lit lamp, a short prayer, and a calm home are the whole of it.
People Also Ask About Dhanteras 2026 Muhurat
When is Dhanteras 2026?
Dhanteras 2026 is on Friday, 6 November 2026. It falls on Trayodashi Tithi of Krishna Paksha in Kartik, which begins at 10:30 AM on 6 November and ends at 10:47 AM on 7 November. It is the first day of the five-day Diwali festival, with Diwali itself on Sunday, 8 November.
What is the Dhanteras 2026 muhurat time?
For New Delhi, the Dhanteras 2026 muhurat is 6:02 PM to 7:57 PM on 6 November, during Pradosh Kaal and Vrishabha Kaal. The wider Pradosh Kaal runs from 5:33 PM to 8:09 PM. Timings vary by city — Mumbai, for example, has its muhurat from 6:36 PM to 8:34 PM — so check your local panchang.
What should you buy on Dhanteras?
Gold and silver lead the list, followed by brass or copper utensils, a new broom, coriander seeds, and Gomti chakra. Many families also buy electronics or a vehicle. The custom is about welcoming wealth and health into the home, not about spending big, so buy what you need and stay within your budget.
Is Dhanteras on 6 or 7 November 2026?
Dhanteras is on 6 November 2026. Trayodashi Tithi runs from 10:30 AM on 6 November to 10:47 AM on 7 November, and the festival is observed on the day the tithi falls during the evening Pradosh Kaal, which is 6 November.
For outside reference, see Drik Panchang: Dhantrayodashi 2026 puja timings for New Delhi for the Delhi muhurat and tithi, and Vedantu: Dhanteras 2026 date, puja muhurat and time for a plain-language summary of the date and timings.
More From NegativeVibeFix
- Evil Eye Protection Bracelet: How to Wear It Right (2026)
- Full Moon Ritual: 15-Minute Release Ceremony Guide
- Protection Spell Jar: How to Make One for Your Home (2026)
This article presents traditional beliefs and folklore for informational purposes only, not as proven fact. If you experience persistent distress, please consult a qualified professional.