Dhanteras 2026 falls on Friday, 6 November. The evening puja muhurat depends on your city. In New Delhi, it runs from 6:02 PM to 7:57 PM, and in Mumbai it starts about half an hour later. Find your city in the table below, then go to the gold buying and Yama Deepam sections if you need them. The Diwali Lakshmi Puja is on Sunday, 8 November.
Dhanteras 2026 Puja Muhurat
Dhanteras is on Friday, 6 November. In New Delhi, the Lakshmi-Kuber puja muhurat is 6:02 PM to 7:57 PM IST. It falls within Pradosh Kaal, while Trayodashi tithi is still running. Other cities differ by up to about half an hour. Mumbai is 6:35–8:35 PM, and Kolkata is 5:28–7:26 PM.
In Delhi, Trayodashi starts at 10:30 AM on 6 November and ends at 10:47 AM on 7 November. Pradosh Kaal, the stretch after sunset, runs from 5:33 PM to 8:09 PM. The puja muhurat falls within it and aligns with Vrishabha Kaal, which is why it is shorter than Pradosh Kaal itself. The evening worship honours Lakshmi and Kuber, and the same day is Dhanvantari Jayanti, the birth anniversary of the god of Ayurveda.
Dhanteras Muhurat by City
All times are local to each city and come from Drik Panchang’s list for 6 November 2026.
| City | Puja muhurat |
|---|---|
| Kolkata | 5:28 PM – 7:26 PM |
| Chandigarh | 6:00 PM – 7:54 PM |
| New Delhi | 6:02 PM – 7:57 PM |
| Jaipur | 6:11 PM – 8:07 PM |
| Chennai | 6:14 PM – 8:10 PM |
| Hyderabad | 6:15 PM – 8:13 PM |
| Bengaluru | 6:25 PM – 8:20 PM |
| Ahmedabad | 6:30 PM – 8:28 PM |
| Pune | 6:32 PM – 8:31 PM |
| Mumbai | 6:35 PM – 8:35 PM |
The windows get later as you move west, since the sun sets later there. Kolkata comes first and Mumbai last.
If your city isn’t listed, open Drik Panchang’s Dhanteras page and select it. A nearby metro is only a rough guide, and a few minutes can matter if you want to start right at the opening of the window.
Why Dhanteras Times Differ from Site to Site
You may have seen two pages give different times for the same evening. Both can be correct, just for different places.
Pradosh Kaal begins after local sunset and lasts about two hours and 24 minutes. The puja muhurat is the part of it that overlaps with Vrishabha Lagna. This is a fixed (Sthir) sign, and it is traditionally preferred because Lakshmi is believed to stay when the puja is performed in a steady lagna. Drik Panchang also advises against using Choghadiya for this puja, as those slots are meant for travel.
So the exact window depends on sunset, and sunset depends on where you are.
Some pages publish one city’s times as their headline figure. Shubh Panchang’s 6:37 PM to 8:37 PM, for instance, is for Surat, and a footnote that is easy to miss says so. We have also come across windows like 5:42–7:38 PM and 7:01–8:17 PM for the same date. If a page doesn’t say which city its times are for, treat them as a rough guide only.
Even the tithi shifts. For Lancaster, California, Drik shows Trayodashi starting at 9:00 PM on 5 November and ending at 9:17 PM on 6 November. In Delhi, the same tithi runs from 10:30 AM on 6 November to 10:47 AM on 7 November. The place changes, the clock changes, and so do the start and end times.
Is Dhanteras on 6 or 7 November?
It is on 6 November. Trayodashi spreads across two calendar days in India, and that is where the confusion comes from. But the Dhanteras puja and Yama Deepam are evening observances, done after sunset while Trayodashi is still in effect. That is the case on 6 November. By the evening of 7 November, the tithi is already over (it ends at 10:47 AM in Delhi).
Drik Panchang places Dhanteras on 6 November, and most North Indian calendars agree. A few pages say 7 November. Before trusting them, check which city they have calculated for.
Best Time to Buy Gold on Dhanteras 2026
The puja muhurat and the buying muhurat are not the same thing. One is for worship, and the other is for shopping. You can buy in the afternoon and do the puja in the evening.
Gold is traditionally bought while Trayodashi is in effect. For Delhi, that means from 10:30 AM on 6 November to 10:47 AM on 7 November. Within that period, Drik Panchang lists these auspicious Choghadiya windows for New Delhi on 6 November:
- 12:05 PM to 1:27 PM
- 4:11 PM to 5:33 PM
- 8:49 PM to 10:27 PM
Many families buy before the evening puja so that the new piece can be placed before Lakshmi during worship. That is a custom, not a rule. Choose a time that works for you and spend what suits your budget, even if that is a single silver coin. Whatever you buy, check the hallmark and ask for a proper bill. Prices move daily, so check today’s 22K and 24K gold rates in India before you head to the jeweller.
Yama Deepam: When and How to Light It
Yama Deepam is a small lamp lit outside the home, facing south, the direction linked with Yama. It is offered as a prayer for the health and long life of the family. Light it in the evening after the main puja, during Pradosh Kaal, and let it burn through the night. In Delhi, Pradosh Kaal is 5:33 PM to 8:09 PM.
The story behind it goes like this. A young prince was destined to die of a snakebite four days after his wedding. His wife heaped her gold and jewellery at the doorway and lit lamps all around the house. She then kept him awake all night with songs and stories. Yama came in the form of a serpent, was dazzled by the light, and went away at dawn. Many North Indian families consider the lamp as important as the puja itself.
What to Buy on Dhanteras (and What to Skip)
Gold and silver come first, and even a small coin counts. Brass, copper and steel utensils are the older tradition and are still widely bought. Many North Indian homes also buy a new broom, which is usually used for the first time on Diwali morning. In recent years, electronics, appliances and vehicles have become popular Dhanteras purchases too.
Tradition says to avoid knives, scissors and other sharp or iron items, glass, black-coloured goods, and in some regions oil. These are folk beliefs, and they differ from family to family and region to region. Nobody is required to buy anything to observe the day.
Dhanteras Outside India
The date is the same, Friday 6 November, but the muhurat is worked out for each location and can be quite different from the Indian times above. Use Drik Panchang’s city selector to find yours, and don’t try to convert an Indian time yourself.
What Comes Next in the Diwali Week
Kali Chaudas (Narak Chaturdashi) is on Saturday, 7 November. Diwali, with the main Lakshmi Puja, is on Sunday, 8 November. Govardhan Puja and Bhai Dooj come after that. You can read our guides to the Diwali 2026 Lakshmi Puja muhurat, Kali Chaudas 2026, and Govardhan Puja 2026. For the full ritual, our Dhanteras puja vidhi goes through it step by step.
FAQ
When is Dhanteras 2026?
Friday, 6 November 2026. It falls on Trayodashi of Krishna Paksha in Kartik, two days before Diwali.
What is the Dhanteras puja muhurat in 2026?
In New Delhi, it is 6:02 PM to 7:57 PM IST. Mumbai is 6:35–8:35 PM, and Kolkata is 5:28–7:26 PM. For other cities, check the table above.
What is the best time to buy gold on Dhanteras 2026?
Any time while Trayodashi is in effect. Drik Panchang’s New Delhi windows on 6 November are 12:05–1:27 PM, 4:11–5:33 PM and 8:49–10:27 PM. Many families buy before the evening puja.
What is Yama Deepam, and when is it lit?
It is a south-facing lamp lit outside the home after the main puja, during Pradosh Kaal, for the family’s long life. It is kept burning through the night.
Is Dhanteras on 6 or 7 November?
6 November. The puja is done after sunset while Trayodashi is still in effect, and the tithi ends on the morning of 7 November.
What should I buy or avoid on Dhanteras?
Gold, silver, metal utensils and a broom are traditional buys. Sharp or iron items, glass, black goods and, in some regions, oil are traditionally avoided. These are customs, so follow them the way your family does.
