Dhanteras 2026: Date, Puja Timings, Rituals And The Story Behind The Festival

Dhanteras 2026 Date

Dhanteras 2026 falls on Friday, 6 November. The festival is celebrated on the Trayodashi tithi of the Krishna Paksha in the month of Kartik. It is the first of the five days of Diwali, followed by Narak Chaturdashi, Diwali, Govardhan Puja and Bhai Dooj.

Dhanteras 2026 Puja Muhurat And Tithi Timings

Here are the timings for New Delhi according to Drik Panchang:

• Trayodashi Tithi Begins: 10:30 AM on Friday, 6 November 2026
• Trayodashi Tithi Ends: 10:47 AM on Saturday, 7 November 2026
• Dhanteras Puja Muhurat: 06:02 PM to 07:57 PM (Duration: 1 Hour 55 Mins)
• Pradosh Kaal: 05:33 PM to 08:09 PM
• Vrishabha Kaal (Fixed Lagna): 06:02 PM to 07:57 PM

2026 Dhanteras Muhurat Across Major Cities

According to Drik Panchang

The puja is done in the evening, so the muhurat of nearly two hours between 6:02 PM and 7:57 PM is the one to note down. It falls inside Pradosh Kaal and also matches Vrishabha Kaal, which is considered a stable time for worship. 

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What Is The Significance Of Dhanteras?

The word itself tells the story. "Dhan" means wealth and "teras" means the thirteenth day. So Dhanteras is the thirteenth day of the lunar fortnight, when people pray for prosperity, good health and a safe home.

Three deities are worshipped on Dhanteras. 

Goddess Lakshmi for wealth

Lord Kubera for treasure

Lord Dhanvantari, the physician of the gods, for health

That last one is why the day is also marked as Dhanvantari Jayanti, and why many people see Dhanteras as a day for wellbeing as much as money.

Buying metal on this day is a long-standing custom. Gold, silver, brass and copper are the usual picks. Many families also buy utensils, coins or a new broom. It is believed that anything bought on Dhanteras brings growth and luck through the year. Brooms are linked to Goddess Lakshmi because they sweep out bad luck and keep the house clean.

Dhanteras 2026 Puja Vidhi And Rituals

The day usually follows a simple routine in most homes.

Decorate the entrance: Make a rangoli at the door and hang a toran of marigold or mango leaves. Small footprints drawn with rice flour or kumkum, pointing inwards, are also common.

Set up the puja space: Take a clean wooden chowki and cover it with a red or yellow cloth. Place idols or pictures of Goddess Lakshmi, Lord Ganesha and Lord Kubera on it. Lord Dhanvantari is worshipped as well.

Start the puja in the muhurat: Light a diya and incense, then offer flowers, roli, akshat, sweets and fruits. Chant the mantras or read the aarti. Offer the new things you bought, such as coins or utensils, and put them in front of the deities.

Light the Yama Deepam: In the evening, a diya with a four-faced wick is lit outside the main door or in the courtyard, facing south. It is lit for Yamraj, the god of death. It is believed to protect the family from untimely death. Mustard oil is normally used.

Buy something small: If gold feels too heavy on the budget this year, a silver coin, brass diya or even a steel utensil works. It is the gesture that counts in the tradition, not the price tag.

Many families also avoid lending money on this day and keep the lights on in the house through the evening.

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Folklore Behind Celebrating Dhanteras

There are two stories that most people grow up hearing.

The first is the story of King Hima's son. According to the tale, the prince was fated to die from a snakebite on the fourth day after his wedding. His young wife did not let him sleep that night. She piled her jewellery and gold coins at the door and lit lamps all around the room. She kept him awake with songs and stories. When Yamraj arrived disguised as a snake, the glow of the gold and the lamps blinded him. He could not enter. He sat on the pile listening to her songs until morning, and then left quietly. The prince was saved. That is why lamps are lit for Yama on Dhanteras, and why the day is linked with protection.

The second story comes from the churning of the ocean, the Samudra Manthan. The gods and demons churned the ocean for the nectar of immortality. On the thirteenth day of the dark fortnight in Kartik, Lord Dhanvantari rose from the waters holding a pot of amrit. In some versions, Goddess Lakshmi also appeared during the same churning. This is why the day is tied to both health and wealth, and why buying a new vessel is considered lucky.

Whichever story you grew up with, the idea is the same. Light a lamp, keep the home clean, and ask for good health and a little prosperity for the year ahead.