Dhanteras 2026 falls on Friday, November 6, the first day of the five-day Diwali festival.
The general timing
Buying gold, silver, new brass or copper utensils, and worshipping Dhanvantari are considered auspicious during Pradosh Kaal and Trayodashi tithi. Pradosh Kaal begins at sunset and runs roughly two hours and 24 minutes. So the exact shopping window depends on your city’s sunset. In Delhi, sunset on November 6 will be around 5:30 PM, giving you a window until approximately 7:54 PM. In Mumbai, sunset runs slightly later, shifting the window accordingly.
The Friday date is a small advantage for working professionals. You can plan to leave work a bit early and make your purchases during the evening Pradosh Kaal window without the weekday time crunch being too tight.
What’s traditionally bought
Gold or silver coins and jewellery, new brass or copper utensils, and an idol of Lakshmi-Ganesh are traditional purchases. Buying a broom is considered a symbolic way of sweeping away poverty.
The gold purchase doesn’t need to be extravagant. Even a 1-gram gold coin counts. The tradition is about inviting Lakshmi’s blessings into the household through the act of acquiring precious metal on this specific tithi, not about the amount spent. Many families buy a single silver coin if gold isn’t in the budget, and that carries the same traditional weight.
For utensils, brass and copper are the traditional choices. Stainless steel has become common in modern practice, but if you want to stay closer to the tradition, copper items (a lota, a small puja thali, or a water glass) are affordable and carry significance in Ayurvedic tradition as well.
Timing for NRI families
If you’re in the US, UK, Canada, or Australia, the Pradosh Kaal window for your local city is what matters. A family in San Francisco should shop during San Francisco’s Pradosh Kaal, not try to match India’s timing. The principle is location-specific.
One practical consideration: many Indian jewellery stores in NRI hubs (Jackson Heights in New York, Wembley in London, Gerrard Street in Toronto) stay open late on Dhanteras specifically to accommodate the evening muhurat window. If you’re ordering online from an Indian retailer, the order timestamp is the relevant moment.
The Yama Deepam tradition
On Dhanteras evening, a special diya is lit at the main entrance of the home facing south. This is called Yama Deepam, lit in honor of Yamraj to protect the household from untimely death. It’s a separate tradition from the Diwali diyas and specifically belongs to Dhanteras night. Use a mustard oil diya for this if possible, and let it burn through the night.
The five-day sequence ahead
Dhanteras kicks off the five-day Diwali sequence: Dhanteras (Day 1), Naraka Chaturdashi or Chhoti Diwali (Day 2), Diwali and Lakshmi Puja (Day 3), Govardhan Puja (Day 4), and Bhai Dooj (Day 5). Each day has its own significance and timing. Getting Dhanteras right sets the tone for the rest.
Check your city’s timing
Check the muhurat page with your city selected for that day’s sunset and Rahu Kaal, and shop outside Rahu Kaal. Confirm Trayodashi tithi timing on the panchang page for your specific location.