Dhanteras 2026: Date, Puja Muhurat, Shopping Time, Yam Deepak & What to Buy

Last updated: 18 October 2026

Dhanteras is the day Diwali really begins. Shops stay open late, the jewellers' counters are three-deep, and every family has at least one thing on the list, whether it's a silver coin, a new steel kadhai or just a jhaadu. Every year the same questions come up too: what time is the muhurat, can we buy in the morning, what shouldn't we buy, and where does the Yam diya go? We've put the answers in one place, with timings for Ayodhya, Lucknow and Varanasi as well as Delhi. Since we're based in Ayodhya, we've also added what the day looks like here, the evening before Deepotsav.

Dhanteras 2026 at a Glance

Detail	2026
Dhanteras / Dhantrayodashi	Friday, 6 November 2026
Trayodashi tithi begins	10:30 AM, 6 November
Trayodashi tithi ends	10:47 AM, 7 November
Puja muhurat (New Delhi)	6:02 PM – 7:57 PM
Pradosh Kaal (New Delhi)	5:33 PM – 8:09 PM
Vrishabha Kaal (New Delhi)	6:02 PM – 7:57 PM
Puja muhurat (Ayodhya, approx.)	5:45 PM – 7:41 PM
Yam Deepak (Yam Deepdaan)	Evening of 6 November, after sunset
Also celebrated	Dhanvantari Jayanti (the birth of the god of Ayurveda)
Next day	Ayodhya Deepotsav, 7 November; Diwali, 8 November

Dhanteras 2026 Kab Hai: 6 or 7 November?

The tithi starts in the morning of one day and ends in the morning of the next, which is why people get confused. The rule for Dhanteras is that the puja is done in Pradosh Kaal (the period after sunset) on the day Trayodashi is present. On the evening of 6 November Trayodashi is running. By the evening of 7 November it has ended. So Dhanteras puja, Yam Deepak and Dhanvantari puja are all on Friday, 6 November 2026.

For shopping, there is some good news: Trayodashi continues until 10:47 AM on 7 November. If you couldn't get to the market on Friday, Saturday morning still counts.

Dhanteras Puja Muhurat 2026 by City

City	Puja muhurat (6 Nov)	Sunset (approx.)
New Delhi	6:02 PM – 7:57 PM	5:33 PM
Ayodhya	about 5:45 PM – 7:41 PM	5:15 PM
Lucknow	about 5:50 PM – 7:46 PM	5:20 PM
Varanasi	about 5:45 PM – 7:41 PM	5:14 PM

New Delhi timings are from Drik Panchang. Ayodhya, Lucknow and Varanasi have been worked out from the local Vrishabha Kaal and may differ by a few minutes from your family panchang.

Why Vrishabha Kaal? Vrishabha (Taurus) is a "fixed" lagna. Lakshmi puja done in a fixed lagna is believed to make the blessing stay in the home rather than come and go. That is why both Dhanteras and Diwali puja are timed to it.

Best Time to Buy on Dhanteras 2026

• Whole window: any time Trayodashi is running, from 10:30 AM on 6 November to 10:47 AM on 7 November, is considered good for purchases.
• Most preferred: the evening Pradosh Kaal on 6 November, especially the Vrishabha Kaal (about 5:45–7:41 PM in Ayodhya). If you buy gold or silver during the puja window, you can place it straight into the puja.
• Practical tip: book jewellery in advance and collect it on the day, because shops are packed after 5 PM. Many families buy in the afternoon and bring the item into the evening puja.

What to Buy on Dhanteras (and What to Avoid)

Considered auspicious	Traditionally avoided
Gold or silver: coins, a small piece of jewellery	Sharp iron items such as knives and scissors
Steel, brass or copper utensils (bring them home with something in them, like rice or sweets)	Empty utensils
A new broom (jhaadu), linked with Lakshmi and cleanliness	Glass items and anything broken or chipped
Whole dhania (coriander seeds), sown or kept in the puja	Black-coloured items
Idols of Lakshmi, Ganesh and Kuber for Diwali puja	Oil and plain aluminium, in some families
Diyas, a kalash, gomti chakra, kauri	Taking loans or lending money on the day
Vehicles, electronics, home appliances	—

These are beliefs that vary from family to family, not fixed rules. If your budget is tight, a broom and a packet of dhania are just as "Dhanteras" as a gold coin. Plenty of families stick to exactly that.

Buying gold or silver? A few sensible checks

• Look for the BIS hallmark and the HUID number on gold jewellery, and ask for it on the bill.
• Check the day's rate before you go, and compare making charges between two or three shops.
• Silver coins with a Lakshmi-Ganesh image are popular on Dhanteras. Ask the weight and purity (999 or 925) before you pay.
• Keep the bill. You'll need it for exchange or resale.

You can check hallmark details on the official Bureau of Indian Standards website.

Dhanteras Puja Vidhi at Home (Simple Steps)

1. Clean the house, especially the entrance and the puja corner. Make a small rangoli at the door.
2. Set up the puja: on a red or yellow cloth, place Lakshmi, Ganesh, Kuber and, if you have one, a picture of Lord Dhanvantari. Keep a kalash of water and a ghee diya.
3. Bring in the new purchase: place the gold, silver, utensil or coin near the deities.
4. In the muhurat (about 5:45–7:41 PM in Ayodhya), offer roli, rice, flowers, sweets and dhania, light the diya, and pray to Lakshmi-Kuber for prosperity and to Dhanvantari for good health.
5. Aarti: do the Lakshmi aarti, then share the prasad.
6. Yam Deepak: after the puja, light the Yam diya at the main door (steps below).

Yam Deepak on Dhanteras: Where, When and How

This is the one ritual many people forget, or do the wrong way round. The Yam Deepak, or Yam Deepdaan, is a lamp offered to Yamraj on Dhanteras evening, praying that no one in the family meets an untimely death.

• When: after sunset on 6 November, usually after the main puja.
• Which lamp: one earthen diya with mustard or sesame oil. A four-faced (chaumukha) diya is used in many homes.
• Where: outside the main door, at the threshold. Many families keep it on a small heap of grain or rice.
• Direction: the flame should face south, the direction of Yama.
• After lighting it: fold your hands, pray for the family's safety, and go back inside without looking back. Leave it to burn out on its own.

The story behind it comes from King Hima's son, who was destined to die on the fourth day of his marriage. His wife kept the house lit with lamps and piled gold and silver at the door. When Yama came as a serpent, he was dazzled by the light, sat listening to her songs all night and left at dawn. Since then, a lamp is lit for Yama on this night.

Why Dhanteras Is Celebrated

• Lord Dhanvantari: during the Samudra Manthan, Lord Dhanvantari, the physician of the gods, emerged from the ocean on Kartik Krishna Trayodashi carrying a pot of amrit. That is why the day is also Dhanvantari Jayanti, and why people buy pots and utensils.
• Health before wealth: the original idea of Dhanteras is health first (Dhanvantari), then wealth (Lakshmi-Kuber).
• Ayurveda Day: National Ayurveda Day used to be observed on Dhanteras. Since 2025, the Government of India observes it on a fixed date, 23 September, every year. Many websites haven't caught up with this yet.
• The start of Diwali: Dhanteras is day one of the five-day Diwali festival.

The Five Days of Diwali 2026

Date	Festival
6 November (Fri)	Dhanteras, Yam Deepak, Dhanvantari Jayanti
7 November (Sat)	Ayodhya Deepotsav, Choti Diwali, Hanuman Jayanti at Hanuman Garhi
8 November (Sun)	Diwali, Lakshmi Puja
10 November (Tue)	Govardhan Puja, Annakoot
11 November (Wed)	Bhai Dooj

Dates follow Drik Panchang for North India. The whole Kartik month, with its snan and parikrama dates, is in our Kartik Maas 2026 guide.

Dhanteras in Ayodhya: The Evening Before Deepotsav

In most cities Dhanteras is about markets. In Ayodhya it's also the night the city gets ready for Deepotsav. Lakhs of diyas are being laid out on the ghats, rehearsals are going on, and security arrangements tighten through the day.

• Shopping: the lanes around Hanuman Garhi and along Ram Path are full of stalls selling diyas, idols, puja items and sweets. For jewellery and utensils, most local families go to the main markets of Faizabad city.
• Traffic: vehicle restrictions for Deepotsav can begin from 6 November, so check the latest advisory before you drive in. See our Ayodhya parking guide and the car drop point guide.
• Darshan: go to Ram Mandir early in the morning on 6 November. Crowds build every hour after that until Diwali. Book the free Sugam Darshan pass on online.srjbtkshetra.org (see how to book it), check the darshan timing, and keep phones in the free locker.
• Evening: do your Dhanteras puja at the hotel or a temple, then watch the Saryu Aarti. See the Saryu Aarti guide.
• Next day: Deepotsav on 7 November. Read the Deepotsav 2026 guide for timings, viewing spots and entry rules.

Official notices about darshan and crowd arrangements during the festival are posted on the Trust website srjbtkshetra.org.

Coming to Ayodhya for Dhanteras and Deepotsav? A 3-day plan

Day	Plan
6 Nov (Dhanteras)	Arrive early; Ram Mandir darshan in the morning; Hanuman Garhi and Kanak Bhawan; shopping in the afternoon; puja and Yam Deepak in the evening
7 Nov (Deepotsav)	Saryu snan in the morning; rest in the afternoon; reach your Deepotsav viewing spot early in the evening
8 Nov (Diwali)	Morning darshan if crowds allow; Lakshmi puja in the evening; the city lit up at night

Hotels for these three nights fill up weeks ahead. See hotels near Ram Mandir and our 2 day Ayodhya itinerary. Travelling with elders? See the Ram Mandir wheelchair facility.

Dhanteras Do's and Don'ts

Do	Don't
Clean the house and the entrance before the evening	Leave the main entrance dark
Light the Yam Deepak facing south	Look back after placing the Yam diya
Buy at least one small auspicious item, even just a broom or dhania	Buy on credit or lend money on the day
Check the hallmark and keep the bill for gold and silver	Rush a big purchase in the evening crowd
Give something to someone in need	Argue at home on a festival evening

Plan Your Diwali in Ayodhya

Flying in? See Ayodhya airport and station pickup. Coming by train? Book on IRCTC as early as you can, because Diwali trains fill up fast. We arrange cabs, hotels near Ram Path and help with the free darshan pass. We never sell darshan passes. Read Ram Mandir VIP darshan: real or fake. See our Ram Mandir tour package and Ayodhya cab service.

FAQ: Dhanteras 2026

When is Dhanteras 2026?

Dhanteras 2026 is on Friday, 6 November 2026. Trayodashi tithi begins at 10:30 AM on 6 November and ends at 10:47 AM on 7 November.

Dhanteras 2026 kab hai, 6 ya 7 November?

Dhanteras 2026 Shukravar, 6 November ko hai, kyunki Pradosh kaal me Trayodashi 6 November ki shaam ko hai. Kharidari 7 November subah 10:47 baje tak bhi kar sakte hain.

What is the Dhanteras puja muhurat in 2026?

In New Delhi the Dhanteras puja muhurat is 6:02 PM to 7:57 PM on 6 November 2026. In Ayodhya it is about 5:45 PM to 7:41 PM, in Lucknow about 5:50 PM to 7:46 PM, and in Varanasi about 5:45 PM to 7:41 PM.

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

You can buy any time during Trayodashi, from 10:30 AM on 6 November to 10:47 AM on 7 November. The evening Pradosh and Vrishabha Kaal on 6 November is considered the best.

Can we buy on Dhanteras in the morning?

On 6 November Trayodashi starts at 10:30 AM, so buy after that time. On 7 November you can still buy in the morning until 10:47 AM, while Trayodashi lasts.

Dhanteras par kya kharidna chahiye?

Dhanteras par sona-chandi, steel, peetal ya taambe ke bartan, nayi jhaadu, sabut dhaniya, Lakshmi-Ganesh-Kuber ki murti aur diye kharidna shubh maana jata hai. Bartan khali ghar na laayein, usme chawal ya mithai rakhkar laayein.

What should not be bought on Dhanteras?

Traditionally people avoid sharp iron items like knives and scissors, glass items, black items and empty utensils. These are beliefs that vary from family to family.

When and where should the Yam Deepak be lit?

Light the Yam Deepak after sunset on 6 November 2026. Use an earthen diya with mustard or sesame oil, place it outside the main door with the flame facing south, pray for the family's safety and go inside without looking back.

Is Dhanvantari Jayanti on Dhanteras?

Yes. Dhanteras is also Dhanvantari Jayanti, the day Lord Dhanvantari, the god of Ayurveda, appeared during the Samudra Manthan. National Ayurveda Day, however, has been observed on a fixed date, 23 September, since 2025.

Why is a broom bought on Dhanteras?

A broom is linked with Goddess Lakshmi and cleanliness. Buying a new broom on Dhanteras is believed to sweep away poverty and negativity before Diwali.

What is the date of Diwali 2026?

Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) 2026 is on Sunday, 8 November. Ayodhya Deepotsav is on Saturday, 7 November, the day after Dhanteras.

Is Dhanteras a good time to visit Ayodhya?

Yes, if you plan ahead. Dhanteras falls on the eve of Deepotsav, so the city is festive but crowded. Do Ram Mandir darshan early in the morning, expect traffic restrictions, and book your hotel well in advance.

Coming to Ayodhya for Dhanteras, Deepotsav and Diwali? Tell us your dates and group size, and we'll plan your cab, hotel and darshan timing. Send an enquiry and we'll reply on WhatsApp.