⚡ Quick Summary
Dhanteras 2026 is on Friday, November 6. One calendar gives the Trayodashi tithi as 10:30 AM on November 6 to 10:47 AM on November 7 (IST), and a Delhi Lakshmi-Kubera puja window of about 6:02 PM to 7:57 PM. It opens the five-day Diwali festival, with Diwali itself on Sunday, November 8. Research cutoff: October 30, 2026.
Dhanteras, also called Dhantrayodashi, is the first day of the Diwali festival and falls on the thirteenth lunar day of the dark fortnight of Kartika. In 2026 it is on Friday, November 6. This guide is written a week ahead, so every time below is a published figure, not something we have observed, and you should confirm it with the panchang for your own city.
When Is Dhanteras 2026?
The date is Friday, November 6, 2026. Drik Panchang's festival page lists the same date, and the Divine Hindu guide places it on Kartik Krishna Trayodashi.
Divine Hindu gives the Trayodashi tithi as beginning at 10:30 AM on November 6 and ending at 10:47 AM on November 7, in Indian Standard Time. Because the tithi covers sunset only on Friday, the festival is not in doubt this year. HinduHub adds that the day coincides with Pradosh Vrat, a fast linked to Shiva.
For the rest of the festival, see our Diwali 2026 five-day calendar.
Dhanteras 2026 Puja Muhurat
Evening worship is done in Pradosh Kaal, the period after sunset. Timings depend on the sunset in your city.
| Item | Time (New Delhi) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Lakshmi-Kubera puja muhurat | 6:02 PM to 7:57 PM | Divine Hindu, citing Drik Panchang and AstroTalk |
| Pradosh Kaal | 5:33 PM to 8:09 PM | Divine Hindu, citing Drik Panchang |
| Trayodashi tithi | 10:30 AM Nov 6 to 10:47 AM Nov 7 | Divine Hindu |
HinduHub gives a looser, approximate window of about 4:45 PM to 7:00 PM for Dhanvantari puja and 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM for Lakshmi-Kubera puja. The two guides do not match, which is normal for rounded estimates. Drik Panchang's own page, when we opened it, still showed old timings, so we did not rely on it for times. Use a city-specific panchang such as Drik Panchang, mPanchang or Prokerala once your city's table is published.
Yama Deepam: The Lamp for Yama
A traditional ritual of the day is lighting a lamp facing south for Yama, the god of death, to pray for protection from untimely death. It is lit at dusk, within Pradosh Kaal. Divine Hindu gives no exact clock time for it, and HinduHub says it can be done any time from sunset to midnight. The usual practice is a single oil lamp placed outside the home, but customs vary by family and region.
Who Is Dhanvantari?
Dhanteras is traditionally remembered as the day of Dhanvantari, the divine physician associated with Ayurveda. Families pray for health, and many also worship Lakshmi for prosperity and Kubera, the guardian of wealth.
A correction about National Ayurveda Day
Older guides, including an earlier version of ours, say Dhanteras is observed as National Ayurveda Day. That is no longer how the government schedules it. Drishti IAS reports that the 11th Ayurveda Day will be celebrated on September 23, 2026, and the page says the day is now observed on a fixed date each year. Dhanteras remains Dhanvantari's day in tradition, but it is not the date of the official Ayurveda Day.
Rituals Described in Published Guides
HinduHub describes this general outline. It is a summary of one source, not a prescription.
- Clean the home and draw a rangoli.
- Set up images of Dhanvantari, Kubera and Lakshmi, with Ganesha beside Lakshmi, and invoke Ganesha first.
- Perform Dhanvantari puja, then worship Kubera and Lakshmi.
- Light diyas at the entrance, near the Tulsi plant and in other rooms, plus the south-facing lamp for Yama.
- Close with an aarti and share prasad.
Families follow different traditions, so follow your own household or priest.
Buying on Dhanteras: Customs, Not Advice
Buying something new is the best-known custom of the day. Published guides list gold or silver coins and jewellery, brass or steel utensils, and in North India a new broom. HinduHub also mentions electronics, vehicles and Ayurvedic products. The same guide lists iron, knives and scissors as traditionally avoided.
Divine Hindu says purchases are permitted through the Trayodashi window and lists Delhi choghadiya slots such as 12:05 PM to 1:27 PM on Friday, which it labels Shubh. These are traditional time windows, not financial advice, and Bestie 10 does not recommend any purchase. For background on bullion prices, read our explainer on record gold prices.
Things to Check Before the Day
- Your city's timings: muhurat and tithi times shift with your sunrise and sunset.
- Shop and bank hours: Dhanteras is a festival, not a nationwide public holiday that we have verified. Check local notices.
- Next days: Kali Chaudas is the night of Saturday, November 7, the Naraka Chaturdashi oil bath is on Sunday, November 8 in India, and Lakshmi Puja is that evening, according to our Diwali guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the date of Dhanteras in 2026?
Friday, November 6, 2026.
Is Dhanteras National Ayurveda Day?
No longer, according to the reporting above: Ayurveda Day 2026 is on September 23.
What does the Yama Deepam mean?
It is a lamp lit for Yama at dusk to pray for protection from untimely death.
What time is the Delhi puja muhurat?
Divine Hindu lists about 6:02 PM to 7:57 PM. Confirm with your own panchang.
Conclusion
Dhanteras on November 6 begins a short run of festival days ending with Bhai Dooj on November 11. Plan the evening around your city's sunset, treat published times as guides, and read the full Diwali calendar for the days that follow.
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