In short
- Dhanteras 2026
- Friday, 6 November 2026
- Tithi
- Kartik Krishna TrayodashiAswayuja Krishna Trayodashi (amanta)
- Observed for
- Health first, then wealth
What is it? The first day of Deepavali, on the Trayodashi of the waning moon.
Why do families keep it? Dhanvantari appeared with amrita; and a lamp lit for Yama at the door on this evening is said to keep untimely death away.
What happens on the day? Clean the house, buy a new vessel or metal, worship Dhanvantari, Lakshmi and Kubera in Pradosh kaal, and light the Yama deepa facing south.
When to observe Dhanteras in 2026
| Trayodashi tithi begins | Fri, 6 Nov, 10:31 AM |
|---|---|
| Trayodashi tithi ends | Sat, 7 Nov, 10:48 AM |
| Sunset | 05:32 PM |
| Pradosh Kaal | 05:32 PM – 08:09 PM |
| Rahu Kaala — keep aside | 10:43 AM – 12:05 PM |
What Dhanteras means
Health is the first wealth
Dhanvantari is the god of Ayurveda; the government of India marks this day as National Ayurveda Day. The “dhan” of Dhanteras was health before it was gold.
Yama deepa
At dusk a four-wick lamp is lit outside the door facing south, Yama’s direction, so that no one in the house meets an untimely death.
Something new for the house
A new steel, brass or silver vessel, a coin or jewellery is bought and first used in the Lakshmi puja. Many also buy a broom — Lakshmi comes to a clean house.
In Karnataka
The same evening is Neeru tumbuva habba: the bathing vessel is scrubbed and filled for the next morning’s oil bath.
King Hima’s son and the lamps
Who is in it: King Hima’s son, His bride, Yama
Astrologers told King Hima that his son would die of a snakebite on the fourth day after his wedding.
On that night the young bride would not let her husband sleep. She heaped her jewellery, gold and silver coins at the door of the room and lit lamps all around.
Through the night she sang and told stories to keep him awake.
When Yama came in the form of a serpent, the light off the gold dazzled him. He could not enter, and lay on the heap listening to the songs until dawn — then went away.
Since then lamps are lit for Yama on Dhanteras evening, and gold and silver are bought for the house.
What it teaches: Wakefulness, light and love keep danger at the door.
Dhanteras puja at home, step by step
Getting ready
- 1Clean the whole house and the entrance; draw a rangoli.
- 2Buy a new vessel, coin or ornament if you can, and wash it.
The puja
- 1At dusk (Pradosh kaal), take the sankalpa and worship Ganapati.
- 2Worship Dhanvantari with a lamp, flowers and naivedya; pray for the family’s health.
- 3Worship Lakshmi and Kubera; place the new vessel or coin before them.
- 4Light the Yama deepa: a four-wick clay lamp with sesame or mustard oil, outside the main door, facing south.
- 5Light 13 lamps around the house if that is your custom.
Closing the puja
- 1Use the new vessel for the Lakshmi puja on Deepavali.
- 2Keep the Yama deepa burning as long as it will.
What to keep ready for Dhanteras
Must have
| What | How much | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Lakshmi, Ganapati and Kubera — idols, picture or coin | 1 set | Worship |
| Dhanvantari picture | 1 | Worship |
| Four-wick clay lamp, oil | 1 | Yama deepa |
| Clay lamps | 13 | Around the house |
| Kumkum, haldi, akshata, flowers | A little of each | Puja |
| Sweets, jaggery, dhaniya (coriander seeds) | As needed | Naivedya |
Good to have
| What | How much | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| New vessel, coin or ornament | — | Bought for the house |
| New broom | — | Worshipped and used from Deepavali |
Family and regional customs
| What | How much | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Bathing vessel filled with water | — | Neeru tumbuva habba in Karnataka |
Good practice, and what to avoid
Please do
- Light the Yama deepa facing south.
- Buy something useful for the house, not only for show.
- Pray for the health of the family.
Best avoided
- Leave the entrance dark.
- Lend money or give away iron or sharp items on this day — an old custom many keep.
Chants for Dhanteras
Dhanvantari mantra
ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय धन्वन्तरये अमृतकलशहस्ताय सर्वामयविनाशनाय त्रैलोक्यनाथाय श्रीमहाविष्णवे नमः॥
ಕನ್ನಡ ಲಿಪಿಯಲ್ಲಿ
ಓಂ ನಮೋ ಭಗವತೇ ವಾಸುದೇವಾಯ ಧನ್ವನ್ತರಯೇ ಅಮೃತಕಲಶಹಸ್ತಾಯ ಸರ್ವಾಮಯವಿನಾಶನಾಯ ತ್ರೈಲೋಕ್ಯನಾಥಾಯ ಶ್ರೀಮಹಾವಿಷ್ಣವೇ ನಮಃ॥
oṃ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya dhanvantaraye amṛtakalaśahastāya sarvāmayavināśanāya trailokyanāthāya śrīmahāviṣṇave namaḥ||
What it means: A bow to Dhanvantari, form of Vasudeva, who holds the pot of amrita and ends every illness — lord of the three worlds, Mahavishnu.
Kubera mantra
ॐ यक्षाय कुबेराय वैश्रवणाय धनधान्याधिपतये धनधान्यसमृद्धिं मे देहि दापय स्वाहा॥
ಕನ್ನಡ ಲಿಪಿಯಲ್ಲಿ
ಓಂ ಯಕ್ಷಾಯ ಕುಬೇರಾಯ ವೈಶ್ರವಣಾಯ ಧನಧಾನ್ಯಾಧಿಪತಯೇ ಧನಧಾನ್ಯಸಮೃದ್ಧಿಂ ಮೇ ದೇಹಿ ದಾಪಯ ಸ್ವಾಹಾ॥
oṃ yakṣāya kuberāya vaiśravaṇāya dhanadhānyādhipataye dhanadhānyasamṛddhiṃ me dehi dāpaya svāhā||
What it means: To Kubera, lord of the yakshas, son of Vishravas, master of wealth and grain — grant me plenty of wealth and grain.
Yama deepa daan
मृत्युना पाशदण्डाभ्यां कालेन श्यामया सह।
त्रयोदश्यां दीपदानात् सूर्यजः प्रीयतामिति॥
ಕನ್ನಡ ಲಿಪಿಯಲ್ಲಿ
ಮೃತ್ಯುನಾ ಪಾಶದಣ್ಡಾಭ್ಯಾಂ ಕಾಲೇನ ಶ್ಯಾಮಯಾ ಸಹ।
ತ್ರಯೋದಶ್ಯಾಂ ದೀಪದಾನಾತ್ ಸೂರ್ಯಜಃ ಪ್ರೀಯತಾಮಿತಿ॥
mṛtyunā pāśadaṇḍābhyāṃ kālena śyāmayā saha| trayodaśyāṃ dīpadānāt sūryajaḥ prīyatāmiti||
What it means: With this lamp given on Trayodashi, may Yama, son of the Sun — with Death, noose and staff, Time and his consort — be pleased.
Dhanteras from region to region
North India
The busiest shopping day of the year: utensils, gold, silver and a broom.
Maharashtra
Dried coriander seeds with jaggery are offered and later sown.
Karnataka and the South
Neeru tumbuva habba and Yama deepa; Dhanvantari puja in Ayurveda colleges and homes.
Gujarat
Lakshmi puja with new account books begins for traders.
Have the Dhanteras puja done for you
Two ways to do it. At a temple: the pandit takes your family’s name and gotra in the sankalpa and sends you the photos and video. At home: a pandit from our panel comes to you with the vidhi, and you sit for the puja yourself.
Where this comes from
- Bhagavata and Vishnu Purana for Dhanvantari and the churning of the ocean.
- Skanda Purana for Yama deepa daan on Trayodashi.
How we work out the dates: Stuti Mandir’s own panchanga engine places the Sun and Moon (Lahiri ayanamsa) and checks the tithi against sunrise, sunset and moonrise in Delhi, in IST. A printed panchanga may differ by a minute or so. Where your family’s panchanga or your purohita says otherwise, go with them.
Questions devotees ask us
When is Dhanteras 2026?
Friday, 6 November 2026. In Delhi, Aswayuja Krishna Trayodashi (amanta; Kartik Krishna Trayodashi in the North Indian count) begins Fri, 6 Nov, 10:31 AM and ends Sat, 7 Nov, 10:48 AM IST.
Will Mysuru and Delhi keep Dhanteras on the same day?
Mostly yes. But the sun rises and sets at different times in different towns, and a habba is kept on the day its tithi is running at the right hour — so timings shift, and once in a while the date does too. Change the town above to see yours.
What is the best time for Dhanteras puja?
Pradosh kaal — the evening after sunset — while Trayodashi is running. The timings table above gives it for your town.
What should we buy on Dhanteras?
Traditionally a new steel, brass or silver vessel, a gold or silver coin, or jewellery; many also buy a broom. Buy what the house needs.
Can I book a pandit for Dhanteras and Deepavali Lakshmi puja?
Yes. Book a Lakshmi or Kubera puja at home with a Stuti Mandir pandit, or on live video. Festival evenings fill up first, so book early.