Festival · Dhanvantari and Lakshmi
Dhanteras
The first day of the Diwali festival. It honours Dhanvantari, the god of medicine, and welcomes Lakshmi.
- Dhanteras 2026
- Friday 6 November 2026
- New Delhi
For New Delhi, Friday 6 November 2026
Krishna Trayodashi tithi
- Begins
- 10:31 am
- Ends
- 10:48 am, 7 Nov
- Sunrise
- 6:37 am
- Sunset
- 5:33 pm
- Moonrise
- 4:43 am, 7 Nov
- Moonset
- 3:31 pm
Worked out for your city. Panchangs can differ by a minute or so.
Full panchang for this day →Puja times
For New Delhi, Friday 6 November 2026
Dhanteras puja
6:03 pm to 7:58 pm
- Pradosh Kaal
- 5:33 pm to 8:10 pm
- Vrishabha Kaal
- 6:03 pm to 7:58 pm
- Yama Deepam
- At dusk, in Pradosh Kaal: a lamp outside, facing south
- Trayodashi begins
- 10:31 am
- Trayodashi ends
- 10:48 am, 7 Nov
Worked out for your city. Panchangs can differ by a minute or so.
How it is kept
Customs vary by region and family
- Buy something new in metal: a utensil, silver or gold
- Light a lamp facing south for Yama in the evening
- Clean and decorate the home
What it remembers
Dhanteras, Dhanatrayodashi, is the thirteenth day of the dark fortnight of Kartika (Ashvina where months end at the new moon), and opens the five days of Diwali. It honours Dhanvantari, the physician of the gods, who rose from the ocean with the pot of amrit, and welcomes Lakshmi. Families buy something new in metal, clean the home, and at dusk light a lamp facing south for Yama.
Dhanteras evening
The Dhanteras puja is kept in Pradosh Kaal after sunset, while Trayodashi holds, best while Vrishabha rises; the page shows the time for your city. Families keep it in many ways; follow your own tradition where it differs.
- Clean the home and the doorway, and draw a rangoli with small footprints of Lakshmi leading in.
- Buy something new in metal: a brass or steel vessel, a silver coin, or gold. Many buy a broom too, to sweep away poverty.
- In the evening, set images of Lakshmi, Ganesha, Kubera and Dhanvantari, with the new metal before them.
- At the puja time, worship them with flowers, kumkum, rice, sweets and a ghee lamp, and offer Dhanvantari a prayer for health.
- Light the Yama Deepam: a four-wicked lamp of wheat flour or clay, with oil, set outside the door facing south, for the family’s protection from untimely death.
- Light lamps in every room and at the door, and keep a lamp burning through the night if you can.
What you need
- Something new in metal: a vessel, silver coin or gold
- Images of Lakshmi, Ganesha, Kubera and Dhanvantari
- A four-wicked lamp for Yama, and diyas for the home
- Flowers, kumkum, rice, sweets and coriander seeds
Across India
North and West India
Markets crowded for metal, gold and silver; the Yama Deepam at dusk, and the start of five days of lamps.
Maharashtra
Vasu Baras, the day before, honours the cow and calf; on Dhanteras dried coriander seeds with jaggery are offered.
Gujarat
Dhan Teras with the worship of money and account books, and Lakshmi puja for traders.
Ayurveda
Dhanvantari Jayanti: vaidyas and doctors worship him, and the government keeps National Ayurveda Day.
When it falls
Krishna Trayodashi of Ashvina (Kartika in North India). Kept on the day this tithi holds in the evening.
These are the usual rules. A few days can differ by a day in your tradition, so check with your temple.
Dhanteras in the coming years
New Delhi, India time
- 2026Friday 6 November 2026
- 2027Wednesday 27 October 2027
- 2028Sunday 15 October 2028
Questions
When is Dhanteras in 2026?
Friday 6 November 2026, in New Delhi. In a few places it can fall a day apart, so the date above is worked out for your city.
When does Dhanteras fall?
Krishna Trayodashi of Ashvina (Kartika in North India). Kept on the day this tithi holds in the evening.
How is Dhanteras kept?
Families buy something new in metal: a utensil, silver or gold, light a lamp facing south for Yama in the evening and clean and decorate the home. Customs vary by region and family.
Who is honoured on Dhanteras?
Dhanvantari and Lakshmi. The first day of the Diwali festival. It honours Dhanvantari, the god of medicine, and welcomes Lakshmi.
Why is metal bought on Dhanteras?
In the story of King Hima’s son, the heap of gold and silver at the door dazzled Yama and saved the boy’s life; and new metal welcomes Lakshmi. A brass or steel vessel, a silver coin or gold all keep the custom.
What is Yama Deepam?
A lamp lit outside the door at dusk on Dhanteras, facing south, the direction of Yama, the god of death, for the family’s protection from an untimely death. It is lit in Pradosh Kaal; the page shows that time.
When is the Dhanteras puja?
In Pradosh Kaal after sunset, while Trayodashi holds, and best while Vrishabha (a fixed sign) is rising, as for Lakshmi Puja on Diwali. The page works it out for your city.