Dhanteras 2026: Date, Tithi and Puja Muhurat

Dhanteras, also known as Dhantrayodashi or Dhanvantari Trayodashi, falls on the thirteenth lunar day (tithi) of the dark half (Krishna Paksha) of Kartik, the eighth month of the Hindu calendar, according to the purnimanta calendar followed in North India; in the amanta calendar followed in South and West India, the same day falls in the month of Ashwin. This is the opening day of the five-day Diwali festival, when Lord Dhanvantari is worshipped for health, and Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Kuber are invoked for wealth and prosperity. In 2026, Dhanteras falls on Friday, 6 November, with the Dhanteras puja muhurat from 6:02 PM to 7:57 PM in New Delhi. The date changes each year according to the lunar calendar, but understanding how the tithi is calculated will help you observe it correctly.

Dhanteras 2026: Date and Timings

Dhanteras date: Friday, 6 November 2026

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

Yama Deepdaan: Evening of Friday, 6 November 2026

All timings are in Indian Standard Time (IST). The puja muhurat is calculated for New Delhi and will differ in other cities depending on local sunset time, so check your local panchanga for the exact window where you live.

Understanding the Dhanteras Tithi

Dhanteras is defined by the lunar tithi, not a fixed calendar date. The thirteenth tithi (Trayodashi) of Krishna Paksha (the dark half) is what makes a day Dhanteras. A tithi is based on the angle between the moon and the sun—each tithi represents a further 12 degrees of separation between them—so its length varies, lasting anywhere from about 19 to 26 hours. This means that the Trayodashi tithi rarely aligns neatly with a calendar day; it may begin partway through one day and end partway through the next. In 2026, for example, Trayodashi begins at 10:30 AM on 6 November and ends at 10:47 AM on 7 November. For Dhanteras, the deciding rule is that Trayodashi must be in effect during Pradosh Kaal, the evening twilight period after sunset, which is when the main puja is performed. Because Trayodashi covers the evening of 6 November in 2026, that is the day Dhanteras is observed.

Your regional panchanga (lunar calendar) is the reliable source for the tithi in any given year. Different traditions and regions may observe Dhanteras according to their own panchanga, so the date that is most important for you is the one published by or accepted in your own community. Many temples and observance guides publish the timing well in advance.

Kartik Month and Season

Dhanteras falls in late October or early-to-mid November in the Gregorian calendar, a few days before the new moon of Diwali. This is the season of the post-monsoon harvest across much of India, when the climate turns cooler and clearer. The timing makes Dhanteras part of a larger sequence of autumn festivals that includes Diwali and runs into the winter months. If you are planning to observe Dhanteras, knowing roughly when the festival season arrives in your year will help you prepare.

Kartik is considered a highly auspicious month for spiritual practice, including ritual bathing (Kartik snan) and the lighting of lamps. The tradition of buying precious metals, new cookware or household items belongs specifically to Dhanteras, which is regarded as one of the most auspicious days of the year for such purchases.

Puja Muhurat for Dhanteras

The main Dhanteras puja is performed in the evening during Pradosh Kaal, the period of roughly two to two and a half hours that begins at sunset. Many traditions prefer the portion of Pradosh Kaal that coincides with the Vrishabha (Taurus) lagna, a stable (sthir) ascendant considered especially auspicious for inviting lasting prosperity. The exact muhurat (auspicious time window) depends on your local sunset time and the tithi timings, so it differs from city to city. In 2026, the Dhanteras puja muhurat in New Delhi is from 6:02 PM to 7:57 PM on Friday, 6 November; in cities further west, such as Mumbai, sunset and the muhurat fall roughly half an hour later. This is traditionally when families light diyas (lamps), set up an altar for Dhanvantari, Lakshmi and Kuber, and perform the ritual.

Many families also perform a brief puja earlier in the day, followed by the more elaborate evening puja during the muhurat. What matters most is that the main puja happens consciously during the Dhanteras evening, with proper intention and attention. If you are observing in a temple or joining a community observance, the timing will generally be arranged for you. If you are observing at home, your local panchanga or a trusted guide specific to your region will give you the exact muhurat window for your location.

What Happens on Dhanteras

On Dhanteras, the focus is on prosperity, abundance and the health of the household. According to tradition, this is the day Lord Dhanvantari—the divine physician, an avatar of Lord Vishnu and the father of Ayurveda—emerged from the Samudra Manthan, the churning of the cosmic ocean, carrying the pot of amrit, the nectar of immortality. For this reason, Dhanteras is also observed in India as National Ayurveda Day, and Dhanvantari is worshipped for good health and long life. The puja typically involves lighting oil lamps, making offerings to Dhanvantari, to Lakshmi (the goddess of wealth and prosperity) and to Kuber (the keeper of treasures), and often performing aarti (the ritual of waving a lit lamp). Many households also prepare sweets or savoury offerings. Many families purchase gold, silver or utensils on this day, seeing it as one of the most auspicious days of the year for such purchases. Purchases are traditionally considered auspicious throughout the Trayodashi tithi—in 2026, from 10:30 AM on 6 November until 10:47 AM on 7 November.

The day also carries a protective dimension. Dhanteras evening is associated with Yama, the god of death, through the ritual of Yama Deepdaan: a lamp is lit and placed facing south, the direction of Yama, as a prayer to protect family members from untimely death. In 2026, Yama Deepdaan is performed on the evening of Friday, 6 November. A well-known legend tells of a young prince who was destined to die on the fourth day of his marriage. On that night, his wife piled her gold and silver ornaments and coins at the entrance of their room and lit lamps all around, staying awake telling stories and singing songs. When Yama arrived in the form of a serpent, he was dazzled by the brilliance of the lamps and the gleaming metals and could not enter; he spent the night listening to her songs and departed at dawn, sparing the prince's life. This story is also one of the reasons for the tradition of buying gold and silver on Dhanteras. This dual aspect—abundance on one hand, protection and health on the other—makes Dhanteras both a day of celebration and of humble reverence.

Regional and Sampradaya Variations

The way Dhanteras is observed varies across India and within different spiritual communities. In North and West India, Dhanteras is widely celebrated with puja and the purchase of gold, silver and household items, and markets are especially busy on this day. Ayurvedic practitioners, hospitals and clinics in many places hold special Dhanvantari pujas. In Tamil Nadu and parts of South India, where Deepavali itself is celebrated on the morning of Naraka Chaturdashi, Dhanteras is generally less prominent, though Dhanvantari worship is still observed in many homes and temples. Within different sampradaya traditions, the specific rituals and their meaning may be understood differently.

What is consistent is the recognition of Dhanteras as the start of the Diwali season and as a day associated with prosperity, health and protection. Whether you follow the observance of your own family tradition, your region, or a particular spiritual guide, understanding the underlying meaning—that this is a day to invite auspiciousness into your life and your home—helps you approach it with authenticity rather than mere habit.

Planning Ahead for Dhanteras

Dhanteras in 2026 falls on Friday, 6 November. The Trayodashi tithi begins at 10:30 AM that day and ends at 10:47 AM on Saturday, 7 November, and the evening puja muhurat in New Delhi is from 6:02 PM to 7:57 PM. If you live outside Delhi, check your regional panchanga or consult your local temple or spiritual guide for the exact muhurat in your city, as timings vary by location. Prepare the items you will need—oil and wicks for lamps, including a lamp for Yama Deepdaan, flowers, incense, offerings—a few days in advance so that you can move through the ritual without rushed energy. If you plan to purchase precious metals or household items, research your options ahead of time and set aside the funds.

Take a moment before the day arrives to clarify what prosperity and protection mean to you. Dhanteras is not only about material gain; it is about inviting abundance in all its forms—health, wisdom, peace, and security—into your life and the lives of those you care for. When you approach the observance with this understanding, the ritual carries deeper meaning and becomes a genuine expression of your aspirations.

Common questions

When is Dhanteras in 2026?

Dhanteras falls on Friday, 6 November 2026. The Trayodashi tithi begins at 10:30 AM on 6 November and ends at 10:47 AM on 7 November 2026 (IST). The Dhanteras puja muhurat in New Delhi is from 6:02 PM to 7:57 PM on 6 November; timings in other cities vary with local sunset.

What is the difference between Dhanteras and Dhantrayodashi?

Dhanteras and Dhantrayodashi refer to the same day. Dhanteras is the more commonly used name, derived from 'dhan' (wealth) and 'teras' (thirteen), while Dhantrayodashi uses the Sanskrit term for the thirteenth tithi. The day is also called Dhanvantari Trayodashi, after Lord Dhanvantari. All of these names describe the same Krishna Paksha Trayodashi, which falls in Kartik according to the purnimanta calendar and in Ashwin according to the amanta calendar.

Can I observe Dhanteras puja early in the morning instead of evening?

The main Dhanteras puja is traditionally performed in the evening during Pradosh Kaal, when the day's muhurat is considered most auspicious. Many households also perform a short puja earlier in the day, but the main puja, along with the Yama Deepdaan lamp, is best done in the evening window your local panchanga specifies. In 2026, note that the Trayodashi tithi only begins at 10:30 AM on 6 November, so the early morning of that day still falls in the previous tithi.

Should I buy gold or silver on Dhanteras?

Purchasing precious metals on Dhanteras is a common tradition in many regions, seen as auspicious for transactions involving wealth. However, this is a custom, not a requirement of the observance. If you choose to buy, do so only if it fits your means and wishes; the spiritual significance of Dhanteras does not depend on making a purchase. Traditionally, purchases are considered auspicious throughout the Trayodashi tithi, which in 2026 runs from 10:30 AM on 6 November to 10:47 AM on 7 November.