Dhanteras 2026 date and puja time (Friday, Nov 6): India, USA and the story
By Kulasekhar Mittapalli · Updated
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Dhanteras, the first day of the Diwali festival, is on Friday, November 6, 2026, in every city below. Lakshmi and Dhanvantari puja is done in the evening, during Pradosh kaal, so the time depends on your local sunset.
1The stories behind Dhanteras
Dhanvantari and the pot of amrita
When the gods and asuras churned the ocean of milk, Dhanvantari, the physician of the gods, rose on Trayodashi carrying the pot of amrita, the nectar of immortality. He is the patron of Ayurveda, and the day is also Dhanvantari Jayanti; families pray for health as much as wealth, and India keeps it as National Ayurveda Day.
King Hima's son and the lamp for Yama
A well-known story tells of King Hima's son, whose horoscope said he would die of a snakebite on the fourth night of his marriage. That night his young wife piled her gold and silver ornaments at the door, lit lamps all around, and kept him awake with songs and stories. When Yama came in the form of a serpent, the glitter dazzled him; he sat on the heap listening until dawn and left without taking the prince. Since then a lamp is lit for Yama, the Yama Deepam, on the evening of Dhanteras.
Lakshmi and Kubera
Dhanteras opens the Lakshmi days of Diwali. Lakshmi is welcomed with a lamp and a new piece of metal, and Kubera, treasurer of the gods, is worshipped by traders and households who pray that wealth stays and grows.
2How to celebrate at home, in India or abroad
- Clean and decorate: sweep and wash the entrance, draw a rangoli or muggu, and hang a toran or mango leaves.
- Buy something new: a little gold or silver, a coin, a steel or brass utensil, or a new broom; families abroad often pick something from an Indian jeweller or grocer that week.
- Evening puja: in Pradosh kaal, place the new item before Lakshmi, Kubera and Dhanvantari with a lamp, flowers, kumkum and a sweet.
- Yama Deepam: at dusk, light a four-wick earthen lamp outside the main door, facing south, and say the verse below. In an apartment, a lamp at the door or balcony is fine; keep it away from smoke alarms.
Yama Deepam verse (traditional):
मृत्युना पाशदण्डाभ्यां कालेन श्यामया सह ।
त्रयोदश्यां दीपदानात् सूर्यजः प्रीयतामिति ॥
Mṛtyunā pāsha-daṇḍābhyāṃ kālena shyāmayā saha; trayodashyāṃ dīpa-dānāt sūryajaḥ prīyatām iti.
Meaning: by this lamp offered on Trayodashi, may the son of the Sun, Yama, with Death, his noose and staff, Time and his consort, be pleased.
3Checklist: what you need
9 items
- A little gold, silver or a new steel / brass utensil to buy
- Lakshmi, Kubera and Dhanvantari picture
- A four-wick clay lamp for Yama Deepam at the door
- Ghee or sesame oil, cotton wicks
- Turmeric, kumkum, akshata, flowers
- Coriander seeds (dhaniya) for Lakshmi
- Naivedyam: sweets, jaggery, fruits
- Agarbatti, camphor, bell
- Rangoli colours
4A priest, or do it yourself
Dhanteras puja and Yama Deepam (Telugu) · SASURIKA Vlogs · YouTubeA video by another channel, added after our review. If your family’s custom differs, follow it.
5Puja items near you
Indian groceries and puja stores near the city you picked above.
6Dhanteras puja time by city
| City | Date | Puja window (Pradosh kaal) | Trayodashi tithi (local time) |
|---|---|---|---|
| India · Fri, Nov 6Trayodashi Fri, Nov 6, 10:31 AM → Sat, Nov 7, 10:48 AM IST | |||
| Delhi | 5:31 PM – 8:08 PM | ||
| Mumbai | 6:01 PM – 8:34 PM | ||
| Hyderabad | 5:41 PM – 8:12 PM | ||
| Bengaluru | 5:50 PM – 8:19 PM | ||
| Chennai | 5:39 PM – 8:08 PM | ||
| Kolkata | 4:55 PM – 7:29 PM | ||
| Pune | 5:58 PM – 8:30 PM | ||
| USA, Canada and abroad | |||
| New York | Fri, Nov 6 | 4:45 PM – 7:31 PM | Fri, Nov 6, 12:01 AM → Sat, Nov 7, 12:18 AM |
| Dallas | Fri, Nov 6 | 5:30 PM – 8:10 PM | Thu, Nov 5, 11:01 PM → Fri, Nov 6, 11:18 PM |
| Chicago | Fri, Nov 6 | 4:37 PM – 7:24 PM | Thu, Nov 5, 11:01 PM → Fri, Nov 6, 11:18 PM |
| Bay Area (San Jose) | Fri, Nov 6 | 5:03 PM – 7:46 PM | Thu, Nov 5, 9:01 PM → Fri, Nov 6, 9:18 PM |
| Toronto | Fri, Nov 6 | 5:00 PM – 7:48 PM | Fri, Nov 6, 12:01 AM → Sat, Nov 7, 12:18 AM |
| London | Fri, Nov 6 | 4:23 PM – 7:19 PM | Fri, Nov 6, 5:01 AM → Sat, Nov 7, 5:18 AM |
| Dubai | Fri, Nov 6 | 5:34 PM – 8:09 PM | Fri, Nov 6, 9:01 AM → Sat, Nov 7, 9:18 AM |
| Singapore | Fri, Nov 6 | 6:49 PM – 9:12 PM | Fri, Nov 6, 1:01 PM → Sat, Nov 7, 1:18 PM |
| Sydney | Fri, Nov 6 | 7:25 PM – 9:30 PM | Fri, Nov 6, 4:01 PM → Sat, Nov 7, 4:18 PM |
Dhanteras puja time in your city
Each city page has every day of the festival with local times, and the dates in India.
USA
Dhanteras 2026 puja muhurat in every US city, on one page ›
Canada
UK & Europe
Gulf
Asia-Pacific
India
More about Dhanteras
How the date is decided
Dhanteras (Dhana Trayodashi) is the Krishna Trayodashi of Ashwina in the amanta calendar (Kartika in the purnimanta calendar), observed on the evening when Trayodashi is in force during Pradosh kaal, from sunset for one fifth of the night.
Two days later comes Lakshmi Puja on November 8. Between them, Naraka Chaturdashi falls on November 7 in the Americas and London, and November 8 in India.
How India celebrates
| Region | What people do |
|---|---|
| North India | The biggest shopping day of the year for gold, silver, utensils and new things for the home; lamps lit at the door; Lakshmi-Kubera puja in the evening |
| Maharashtra | Dhantrayodashi with Dhanvantari puja and a lamp for Yama; a naivedya of crushed coriander seed and jaggery |
| Gujarat | Lakshmi puja at home and in shops; washing and worshipping coins and ornaments |
| Telangana, Andhra Pradesh | Dhana Trayodashi: buying gold or silver is now widely kept; homes are cleaned and lamps lit ahead of Naraka Chaturdashi |
| Ayurveda practitioners | Dhanvantari puja and homa for health; National Ayurveda Day events |
ధన త్రయోదశి 2026: తెలుగులో
ధన త్రయోదశి (ధన్తేరస్) నవంబర్ 6, 2026 శుక్రవారం. సాయంత్రం ప్రదోష కాలంలో లక్ష్మీ, కుబేర, ధన్వంతరి పూజ: హైదరాబాద్ 5:41 – 8:12 PM, డాలస్ 5:30 – 8:10 PM. ఈ రోజు బంగారం, వెండి లేదా కొత్త పాత్రలు కొనడం, సంధ్యా సమయంలో ఇంటి గుమ్మం బయట దక్షిణ ముఖంగా యమ దీపం వెలిగించడం ఆచారం. మీ నగరానికి ఖచ్చితమైన సమయం కోసం Global Panchang తెరవండి.
Frequently asked questions
When is Dhanteras in 2026?
Friday, November 6, 2026, in India, the US, Canada, the UK, the Gulf, Singapore and Australia.
What is the Dhanteras 2026 time and date in India?
Friday, November 6, 2026, across India. Puja is done in Pradosh kaal after sunset: Delhi 5:31 – 8:08 PM, Mumbai 6:01 – 8:34 PM, Hyderabad 5:41 – 8:12 PM, Bengaluru 5:50 – 8:19 PM, Chennai 5:39 – 8:08 PM, Kolkata 4:55 – 7:29 PM. Trayodashi tithi runs from 10:31 AM on November 6 to 10:48 AM on November 7 (IST).
What is the Dhanteras puja time in the USA?
Friday, November 6, 2026, in every US city, in Pradosh kaal from your local sunset: New York 4:45 – 7:31 PM, Chicago 4:37 – 7:24 PM, Dallas 5:30 – 8:10 PM, Bay Area 5:03 – 7:46 PM. Your town is in the city list below.
What is the Dhanteras puja time in Australia?
Friday, November 6, 2026: Sydney 7:25 – 9:30 PM, Melbourne 7:58 – 10:00 PM.
What is the best time for Dhanteras puja and shopping?
Pradosh kaal, the evening window from sunset: New York 4:45 – 7:31 PM, Dallas 5:30 – 8:10 PM, Hyderabad 5:41 – 8:12 PM, Delhi 5:31 – 8:08 PM. Many families also buy gold or utensils during the day while Trayodashi is in force.
What is Yama Deepam?
A lamp lit at dusk on Dhanteras outside the main door, facing south, the direction of Yama, praying that no untimely death visits the family. It recalls the story of King Hima's son.
Is Dhanteras the same as Dhanvantari Jayanti?
Yes. Dhanvantari, the physician of the gods and the patron of Ayurveda, appeared from the churning of the ocean on this Trayodashi. India marks the day as National Ayurveda Day.
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Calculated for each city's own sunrise and sunset; times are shown to the minute in local time, including daylight saving. Panchangams can differ by a few minutes, and family and temple traditions vary. For general information only; it may contain errors and is not religious, astrological or medical advice. Always confirm important dates and muhurtams with your priest or temple. See the disclaimer and terms.
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