Dhanteras 2026: Date, Puja Muhurat, What to Buy and Puja Vidhi

Discover the Dhanteras 2026 date, city-wise puja muhurat, what to buy and avoid, the significance of Yama Deepam, and a simple step-by-step puja vidhi to welcome prosperity and good fortune.

Dhanteras 2026 falls on Friday, 6 November. In New Delhi, the auspicious window for Dhanteras puja is 6:02 PM to 7:57 PM, when the fixed Vrishabha (Taurus) lagna overlaps with the evening Pradosh Kaal. Dhanteras opens the five days of Diwali, and this year Lakshmi Puja follows on Sunday, 8 November.

Below you will find the muhurat for your city, what the day means, what to buy and what to leave for another day, and a simple way to do the puja at home.

Dhanteras 2026 Date and Puja Muhurat

Why this window? Dhanteras puja is done in Pradosh Kaal, the period that begins at sunset, and ideally while a fixed (sthir) lagna is rising. Vrishabha is a fixed sign, and tradition holds that Lakshmi worshipped in a fixed lagna stays in the home. Panchang makers such as Drik Panchang advise against using Choghadiya timings for this puja, since those periods are generally used to plan travel.

Dhanteras Puja Muhurat in Major Cities

These timings come from Drik Panchang's Dhanteras muhurat page and shift slightly with your exact location. If your city is not listed, use the nearest one and confirm with a local panchang.

Where Dhanteras Fits in Diwali 2026

Dates follow Drik Panchang's Diwali calendar for New Delhi. Regional calendars occasionally place an observance a day earlier or later. For the Lakshmi Puja muhurat in your city and a guide to all five days, see our Diwali 2026 date and Lakshmi Puja muhurat guide.

Why Dhanteras Is Celebrated

Dhanteras takes its name from dhan, meaning wealth, and teras, the thirteenth day. It falls on the Trayodashi of the waning moon in the month of Kartik in the Purnimanta calendar, followed across North India, which is the month of Ashwin in the Amanta calendar. Three strands of belief meet on this day.

Dhanvantari Jayanti

The day is also observed as Dhanvantari Trayodashi, the birth anniversary of Dhanvantari, the physician of the gods and the deity of Ayurveda. In the story of the churning of the ocean, Dhanvantari rose from the waters carrying the pot of amrit. That is why many families pray for good health on Dhanteras along with prosperity.

Lakshmi and Kubera

Goddess Lakshmi and Kubera, lord of the Yakshas and keeper of the gods' treasury, are worshipped together in the evening. Some traditions also hold that Lakshmi emerged from the ocean on this day. The main Lakshmi Puja still takes place on Amavasya, two days later, so Dhanteras serves as the opening invitation to prosperity rather than the main ceremony.

Yama Deepam

The third ritual is for Yama, the god of death. A popular story tells of King Hima's son, who was destined to die of a snakebite on the fourth night of his marriage. His young wife heaped her jewellery and coins at the door, lit lamps all around and kept him awake with stories and songs. When Yama arrived in the form of a serpent, the glitter dazzled him, and he left at dawn without taking the prince. A lamp lit on Dhanteras evening and placed facing south, Yama's direction, is meant to protect the family from untimely death.

What to Buy on Dhanteras

Buying something new on Dhanteras is a way of welcoming Lakshmi into the home. These are the items most families choose and the reasons behind them:

No scripture fixes the number of cowries to buy. Families commonly keep 5, 7 or 11, following their own custom.

Many people also use Dhanteras to buy a gemstone. A gemstone is a remedy for a particular planet, though, and it should suit your birth chart rather than the date on the calendar. Our guide on which gemstone to wear according to astrology explains how that choice is made.

What Not to Buy on Dhanteras

These are household beliefs rather than scriptural rules, and they vary from region to region. The ones you will hear most often:

1. Iron and steel items, including knives and scissors. Popular belief links iron with Saturn, and sharp objects are thought to cut through good fortune.

2. Glassware, which some families associate with Rahu.

3. Black clothes or black items, since black is avoided on auspicious days in many households.

4. Empty vessels. If you buy a pot or utensil, fill it before it crosses the threshold.

5. Oil and ghee, which some families prefer to buy a day earlier.

6. Lending money or buying on credit, because giving wealth away on the day you invite Lakshmi is considered a bad omen.

If you need one of these items for practical reasons, the usual answer is simply to buy it on another day.

How to Do Dhanteras Puja at Home

1. Clean the house thoroughly, especially the entrance, and decorate the doorway with rangoli and a toran.

2. Set up the altar in the north or north-east of the home. North is considered Kubera's direction, and our Vastu guide to the home explains why the north-east suits a prayer space.

3. Place images or idols of Lakshmi, Ganesha and Kubera, and a picture of Dhanvantari if you have one. Keep a kalash of water with mango leaves beside them.

4. When the muhurat begins, light a ghee lamp and offer roli, rice, flowers, sweets and a few whole coriander seeds.

5. Place the coins, jewellery or utensils you bought in front of the deities and pray for your family's health and prosperity.

6. Recite the Lakshmi or Kubera aarti, or the prayers your family traditionally uses.

7. For Yama Deepam, light a four-wick earthen lamp (chaumukha diya) and place it outside the main door, facing south.

8. Share the prasad with the family.

Planning a Big Purchase Around Your Own Chart

The muhurat above is calculated for everyone in a city. For a large purchase such as property, a vehicle or a business asset, your own chart matters too. A running dasha or a heavy transit, such as Saturn's current transit through Pisces, can make a different date better for you. If you are planning a major purchase this Diwali, an astrology consultation with Dr. Sanjay Sethi can confirm the right time for your chart.

Frequently Asked Questions About Dhanteras 2026

1. When is Dhanteras in 2026?

Dhanteras is on Friday, 6 November 2026. In New Delhi, the puja muhurat is from 6:02 PM to 7:57 PM, and Trayodashi tithi lasts from 10:30 AM on 6 November to 10:47 AM on 7 November.

2. What is the best time to buy gold on Dhanteras 2026?

Most families buy during Pradosh Kaal, which runs from 5:33 PM to 8:09 PM in New Delhi, and ideally within Vrishabha Kaal, from 6:02 PM to 7:57 PM. Because Trayodashi continues until 10:47 AM on 7 November, some people also buy that morning.

3. What should we buy on Dhanteras?

Gold or silver coins and jewellery, brass or copper utensils, a new broom, whole coriander seeds, cowrie shells and Lakshmi-Ganesha idols for the Diwali puja are the traditional choices.

4. What should we not buy on Dhanteras?

Popular belief advises against iron and steel items, knives and scissors, glassware, black items and empty vessels, and against lending money on the day. These are household traditions rather than scriptural rules.

5. Can we buy steel utensils on Dhanteras?

Many families avoid steel because it is made from iron, which popular belief links with Saturn. Others are comfortable buying stainless steel. If you prefer to follow tradition, choose brass, copper or silver instead.

6. How many cowries should we buy on Dhanteras?

No scripture fixes a number. Families commonly use 5, 7 or 11 cowries, placing them in the puja and then keeping them in the locker or cash box.

7. Why is a lamp lit for Yama on Dhanteras?

The Yama Deepam lamp is lit facing south, the direction of Yama, to protect the family from untimely death. The custom is tied to the story of King Hima's son, whose wife saved him with lamps and jewellery.

8. Is Dhanteras the same as Dhanvantari Jayanti?

Yes. The same Trayodashi is observed as Dhanvantari Trayodashi, the birth anniversary of the deity of Ayurveda, which is why health is part of the day's prayers.