This year's Dhanteras will be celebrated on Friday, November 6, 2026, marking the beginning of the five-day Diwali festival. According to the Hindu calendar, Dhanteras is observed on the Trayodashi Tithi of Krishna Paksha in the month of Kartik. The Trayodashi Tithi will begin at 10:30 AM on November 6 and end at 10:47 AM on November 7, however, Dhanteras will be observed on November 6 as the evening puja falls during the auspicious period on Friday. The name Dhanteras comes from two words: 'Dhan', which means wealth, and 'Teras', which refers to the thirteenth day of the lunar fortnight. The occasion is associated with prosperity, financial well-being and good fortune. Dhanteras is also known as Dhantrayodashi or Dhanvantari Trayodashi, marking the birth anniversary of Lord Dhanvantari, who is worshipped in Hindu tradition as the god of Ayurveda and medicine.
Buying gold and silver is among the most common traditions associated with Dhanteras, with families purchasing gold jewellery, silver coins, utensils and other precious-metal items believing these purchases bring prosperity and good fortune. According to the Drik Panchang, the gold-buying muhurat begins at 10:30 AM on November 6 and continues until 6:37 AM on November 7. A favourable Choghadiya shopping window is also listed on November 7, with the following specific timings: Morning Muhurat: 10:30 AM to 10:43 AM, Afternoon Muhurat: 12:05 PM to 1:27 PM, Afternoon Muhurat: 4:11 PM to 5:33 PM, Night Muhurat: 8:49 PM to 10:27 PM, and Night Muhurat: 12:05 AM to 4:59 AM on November 7. For Mumbai specifically, traditionally favourable shopping periods on November 6 include 10:31 AM to 10:57 AM, 12:22 PM to 1:47 PM, 4:38 PM to 6:03 PM and 9:13 PM to 10:47 PM, according to Navagraha's Panchang calculations. These timings are based on the New Delhi Panchang, with the auspicious shopping period separate from the evening Lakshmi-Kubera puja muhurat. However, the entire Trayodashi Tithi period is not a single shopping muhurat - families should check locally calculated Choghadiya times and their city's Panchang for specific shopping slots. Any purchase made after 10:30 AM on Friday qualifies as a Dhanteras buy, whether it is a coin, utensil, or jewellery, though families often prefer to complete their shopping by late afternoon so the newly acquired items can be placed before deities during the evening puja.
The Dhanteras puja muhurat varies across cities because it is calculated according to local sunrise and sunset timings. According to the Drik Panchang, the Pradosh Kaal in New Delhi will be from 5:33 PM to 8:09 PM, while the Taurus period will last from 6:02 PM to 7:57 PM, with a duration of 1 hour and 56 minutes. The evening Lakshmi-Kubera puja muhurat varies across major cities: New Delhi (6:02 PM to 7:57 PM), Gurugram (6:03 PM to 7:59 PM), Jaipur (6:11 PM to 8:07 PM), Chennai (6:14 PM to 8:10 PM), Hyderabad (6:15 PM to 8:13 PM), and Pune (6:32 PM to 8:31 PM). For Mumbai specifically, Pradosh Kaal runs from 6:03 PM to 8:35 PM, while Vrishabha Kaal begins at 6:35 PM, as reported by Drik Panchang. Devotees traditionally perform Lakshmi-Kubera puja during this evening period to seek blessings for wealth and prosperity. City-specific timings vary significantly - for example, Mumbai's puja muhurat is 6:35 PM to 8:35 PM, Bengaluru's is 6:25 PM to 8:20 PM, and Delhi's is 6:02 PM to 7:57 PM on November 6, 2026. If you live in the USA, the UK, the UAE, or Australia, check your local panchang before planning the rituals as local sunset and time zone differences can affect the observance.
On Dhanteras 2026, devotees are advised to begin the day by cleaning their house, especially the entrance and the puja area. The tradition includes decorating the main door with flowers, torans, rangoli and diyas. In the evening, families should place a wooden chowki in the puja area and cover it with a clean red or yellow cloth. Arrangement of idols or pictures of Lord Ganesha, Goddess Lakshmi is essential during the puja. Keep the newly purchased gold, silver coins or utensils near the deities as part of the traditional practice. These preparations are designed to invoke blessings of prosperity and good fortune for the coming year. Lighting a lamp for Yamaraja, the god of death, is another ritual observed on Dhanteras - known as Yama Deepam, the lamp is traditionally placed outside the house as a prayer for the well-being and long life of family members.
While buying gold and silver is a long-standing Dhanteras tradition, buyers should pay attention to several key factors before making purchases. According to NDTV Profit, those buying gold jewellery should check the BIS hallmark and the six-digit Hallmark Unique Identification (HUID) number, which can be verified using the BIS Care app. Buyers should also compare the prevailing gold rate, making charges and GST before making the final payment. For silver purchases, buyers should check the item's purity, ensure that its weight is accurate and verify that the weight and price are clearly mentioned on the bill. Buying gold is not compulsory for celebrating Dhanteras - families may choose silver coins, steel or brass utensils, small household items or simply perform traditional puja according to their beliefs and budget. However, from an astrological standpoint, buyers should exercise caution with large investments this year. On Dhanteras morning, a retrograde Venus shifts into Virgo, its weakest sign. Because Venus governs gold, silver, and luxury goods, astrologers advise against massive expenditures. This astrological consideration adds an important dimension to the traditional festival, suggesting that while Dhanteras remains an auspicious time for precious metal purchases, buyers should approach large investments with careful consideration of the current planetary influences.
