Dhanteras 2026: Date, Puja Muhurat and What to Buy by Your Rashi
Dhanteras 2026: Date, Puja Muhurat and What to Buy by Your Rashi
By Astro Sandeep, Vedic astrologer and Lal Kitab expert with 21+ years of experience
Key points at a glance
- Dhanteras 2026 falls on Friday, 6 November 2026, two days before Diwali Lakshmi Puja on Sunday, 8 November.
- In Chandigarh, Drik Panchang gives the Dhanteras puja muhurat as 6:00 PM to 7:54 PM, inside Pradosh Kaal (5:31 PM to 8:09 PM).
- Trayodashi tithi runs from 10:30 AM on 6 November to 10:47 AM on 7 November 2026 (IST, Chandigarh).
- The day honours Lord Dhanvantari and Kubera, and the Yama Deepam lamp is lit the same evening.
- What you buy matters less than buying with intention, within your means, and in the right window.
It is the same call every year. A mother in Ludhiana phones on the Monday before Diwali: "Guruji, my son wants to buy a car this Dhanteras, but the dealer can only deliver after 8 PM. Is that still shubh (auspicious)?" Another family in Brampton wants to know if they should follow India's time or Toronto's. For Dhanteras 2026, both questions have clear answers, and I have checked the dates on the panchang for the exact tithi rather than relying on last year's memory.
Below are the verified date, the Chandigarh muhurat, a rashi-wise buying table and the few remedies I suggest in my practice. No fear, no shopping pressure.
What is Dhanteras 2026?
Dhanteras 2026 is the festival of Dhantrayodashi, the 13th lunar day of the waning fortnight before Diwali, observed on Friday, 6 November 2026. Families worship Lord Dhanvantari (the physician of the gods) and Kubera, light the Yama Deepam, and buy metal, utensils or gold as a sign of a prosperous year ahead.
The name joins dhan (wealth) and teras (thirteenth). In North India the day falls in Kartik Krishna Paksha under the purnimanta calendar. Some websites that follow the amanta calendar call it Ashwin Krishna Trayodashi. It is the same day; only the month-naming system differs, so don't let that confuse you.
Dhanteras 2026 date and puja muhurat (verified)
The Dhanteras 2026 puja muhurat in Chandigarh is 6:00 PM to 7:54 PM on Friday, 6 November, according to Drik Panchang (Lahiri).
I checked these timings on 2 November 2026. Here is what the sources show:
| Detail | Timing (Chandigarh, IST) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Dhanteras date | Friday, 6 November 2026 | Drik Panchang |
| Trayodashi tithi begins | 10:30 AM, 6 Nov 2026 | Drik Panchang |
| Trayodashi tithi ends | 10:47 AM, 7 Nov 2026 | Drik Panchang |
| Pradosh Kaal | 5:31 PM to 8:09 PM | Drik Panchang |
| Vrishabha Kaal (sthir lagna) | 6:00 PM to 7:54 PM | Drik Panchang |
| Dhanteras puja muhurat | 6:00 PM to 7:54 PM | Drik Panchang |
| Yama Deepam | Evening of 6 Nov 2026 | Drik Panchang |
Why you may see different times online
Muhurat times shift with the city. Dekhopanchang, which uses Delhi as its reference city, lists the Pradosh Kaal muhurat as 5:49 PM to 7:15 PM. Drik Panchang for Chandigarh gives 6:00 PM to 7:54 PM. Neither is wrong; sunset differs between the two cities and the sites define the window differently. Use the timing for the city you are actually in.
Can you buy before the muhurat?
Yes, for shopping. The muhurat matters most for the puja itself. Trayodashi starts at 10:30 AM on 6 November, so purchases made after that on the same day still fall within Dhanteras. Many sites say you must buy only inside the evening muhurat. I disagree. The classical emphasis is on doing the puja in Pradosh Kaal, with a fixed (sthir) lagna like Vrishabha so that what you invite in stays. A car delivered at 8:30 PM is still a Dhanteras purchase. Do the puja in the window and stop worrying about the showroom's clock.
Why Dhanteras matters in Vedic astrology
Dhanteras ties wealth to health, which is the part most shopping guides skip.
According to the Puranic account, Lord Dhanvantari rose from the samudra manthan (churning of the ocean) on this tithi, carrying the kalash of amrit. That is why the day is also called Dhanvantari Trayodashi. In my reading, the message is that real dhan starts with a healthy body and a calm household.
The festival also falls during the Sun's transit through Libra (Tula), its sign of debilitation. Venus rules Libra, and Venus signifies comfort, metals like silver, vehicles and luxury. That is a big reason Dhanteras shopping leans towards silver and household goods. In 2026 the day is also a Friday (Shukravar), the day of Venus, which many families will welcome.
In my 21 years of practice, I have seen people treat Dhanteras as a single "lucky purchase" day. It works better as a planning day: look at income, debts and family health, then buy something that supports them.
What to buy on Dhanteras 2026 by your rashi
Buy something linked to your Moon sign's ruling planet, within your budget; the table below is my practical guide, based on the traditional planet-metal links in Vedic astrology.
If you don't know your Moon sign (rashi), create your free kundli first. Your rashi is the sign the Moon occupies in your birth chart, not your Western Sun sign.
| Rashi (Moon sign) | Ruling planet | What to buy | Small tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mesh (Aries) | Mars | Copper vessel or copper lota | Use it for drinking water daily |
| Vrishabh (Taurus) | Venus | Silver coin or silver utensil | White sweets for the puja |
| Mithun (Gemini) | Mercury | Brass utensil, books or stationery | Good day to buy a laptop for study or work |
| Kark (Cancer) | Moon | Silver glass or silver coin | Keep it in the kitchen or puja area |
| Singh (Leo) | Sun | Copper item or gold, if affordable | Offer water to the Sun the next morning |
| Kanya (Virgo) | Mercury | Brass items, green plants for the home | Avoid buying on credit |
| Tula (Libra) | Venus | Silver jewellery or home decor | Clean the home thoroughly first |
| Vrishchik (Scorpio) | Mars | Copper or red-coloured kitchenware | Keep the purchase practical |
| Dhanu (Sagittarius) | Jupiter | Gold coin or brass diya | Donate a little to a temple |
| Makar (Capricorn) | Saturn | Stainless-steel utensil or a new broom | Many families avoid buying iron today |
| Kumbh (Aquarius) | Saturn | Steel utensils, a new broom (jhadu) | Give something to a helper at home |
| Meen (Pisces) | Jupiter | Gold, brass or yellow items for puja | Light a ghee diya in the north-east |
A word on gold. Dhanteras is a traditional day to buy gold, but I tell clients clearly: astrology does not predict gold prices, and buying gold on a loan to "please Lakshmi" is a poor idea. A small silver coin bought with saved money carries more meaning than heavy jewellery on EMI.
Numbers matter to some families too. If you follow numerology, you can check your lucky number by date of birth and pick a coin weight or quantity that suits your moolank. Just keep the two systems separate in your mind: moolank comes from numerology, rashi comes from Vedic astrology.
How to do Dhanteras puja at home: step by step
Dhanteras puja is short and simple: clean, set up the altar, worship Dhanvantari, Ganesha, Lakshmi and Kubera in Pradosh Kaal, then light the Yama Deepam.
- Clean the home and the entrance. Do this before evening. A cluttered entrance blocks the welcome you are trying to give.
- Make a small rangoli and place diyas at the door. Keep it simple if you are short of time.
- Set up the altar facing north or east. Place a red or yellow cloth, a kalash of water, and pictures or idols of Ganesha, Lakshmi, Dhanvantari and Kubera.
- Place your new purchase near the altar. Wash utensils first. Coins can be kept on a small plate with rice.
- Begin the puja inside the muhurat. In Chandigarh that is 6:00 PM to 7:54 PM. Start with Ganesha, then offer flowers, roli, rice and sweets.
- Chant simply. "Om Dhanvantaraye Namah" and "Om Kuberaya Namah" are enough. Sincerity matters more than length.
- Light the Yama Deepam. A four-wick diya of mustard oil, placed outside the main door facing south, is the traditional form.
- Keep the new item in the puja area overnight. Use it from the next day.
What is Yama Deepam?
Yama Deepam is a lamp lit on Dhanteras evening for Yamraj, praying for the long life of family members. The story behind it is about King Hima's son, whose wife kept him awake with lamps and stories on the night he was destined to die, and Yama turned back. It is a family-protection ritual. I suggest every home keep it, even if you skip everything else.
Dhanteras myths vs facts
Most Dhanteras confusion comes from forwarded messages, not from the shastras.
| Myth | Fact |
|---|---|
| You must buy gold or you invite bad luck. | No text makes gold compulsory. A steel utensil, a silver coin or a broom is fully traditional. |
| Shopping is only valid inside the evening muhurat. | The muhurat is for puja. Purchases after Trayodashi begins on 6 November count. |
| Buying anything black or iron will ruin the year. | Many families avoid iron on this day by custom. It is a custom, not a curse. |
| NRIs must follow India's time. | Use the muhurat for the city where you live. Your sunset decides your Pradosh Kaal. |
| An expensive purchase brings more wealth. | Debt taken for show works against Jupiter and the 2nd house. Buy within means. |
Safe Dhanteras remedies: Vedic and Lal Kitab
Dhanteras remedies should be small, kind and affordable; I treat them as acts of faith that support your effort, never as a guarantee of money.
Want remedies picked from your own chart? Book a Lal Kitab remedies consultation
Vedic remedies (from the Vedic tradition)
- Yama Deepam at the main door, facing south, for family wellbeing.
- A ghee diya in the north-east of the home during the puja.
- Donate food or warm clothes to someone in need. Charity on Trayodashi is a long-standing tradition.
Lal Kitab remedies (from the Lal Kitab 1952 tradition)
Lal Kitab works differently. A core rule I follow is that Lal Kitab upay are done in daylight, between sunrise and sunset, and one at a time. So a Lal Kitab remedy does not belong inside the evening Pradosh Kaal puja. Do it on Dhanteras morning, after Trayodashi begins, or on the following days.
- Feeding a cow a chapati with a little jaggery, a common Lal Kitab practice linked to Venus.
- Offering chana dal or turmeric at a temple where Jupiter is weak in the chart.
- Keeping a solid square of silver in the safe or purse, which Lal Kitab prescribes only for specific planet placements.
That last one shows why I never hand out Lal Kitab upay blindly. The same remedy that helps one chart does nothing for another. Gemstones, rudraksha and Lal Kitab upay should be chosen only after a personal chart check. You can read more about the rules behind Lal Kitab upay before trying any.
An illustrative example: a Zirakpur shop owner
Illustrative example, not a real client.
Imagine a 42-year-old hardware shop owner in Zirakpur with Vrishabh (Taurus) rashi. He wants to buy a heavy gold chain on Dhanteras 2026 using a personal loan, because "everyone in the market is buying". In his chart, the 2nd house lord (savings) is under strain and Saturn's influence is strong on the 11th house of gains.
My reading would be practical. As a Taurus Moon sign, silver suits him. I would suggest a silver coin bought from savings, the puja done in the 6:00 PM to 7:54 PM window, and the loan postponed until after reviewing his cash flow with his accountant. Astrology points to timing and temperament. It does not replace a balance sheet.
Remedies cannot override effort, and a muhurat cannot fix a bad business decision.
Dhanteras 2026 for Chandigarh tricity and NRI families
Families in Chandigarh, Mohali, Panchkula, Zirakpur and Kharar can follow the Chandigarh muhurat of 6:00 PM to 7:54 PM on 6 November 2026; NRIs should use the timing for their own city.
Readers in Ludhiana, Patiala, Ambala and Delhi NCR will see slightly different windows because sunset differs. Check your own city on the panchang before you light the diya.
For NRI families the rule is the same: your local sunset sets your Pradosh Kaal. For example, Drik Panchang for Lancaster, California gives the Dhanteras puja muhurat on 6 November 2026 as 5:22 PM to 7:14 PM local time. Families in Brampton, Surrey, Toronto, Melbourne or Auckland should look up their own city rather than converting India's time.
The same logic applies to birth charts. If you were born abroad, your birth time has to be converted correctly for the local time zone and any daylight saving in force on that date. I do that conversion before reading any chart. In-person sessions happen at my Mohali office (Booth No. 50, basement, Phase 1), and the online consultation for clients worldwide works just as well. Local readers who want to visit can see my Mohali and Chandigarh practice.
After Dhanteras: the five-day Diwali sequence
Dhanteras opens the five days of Deepavali, which reach Lakshmi Puja on Sunday, 8 November 2026.
Treat Dhanteras as preparation for the main Lakshmi Ganesh puja on Diwali night. My Diwali puja vidhi and muhurat guide covers that evening in detail. If you want a broader look at your finances for the year ahead, a personal Vedic chart reading looks at the 2nd, 10th and 11th houses together with your current dasha.
Frequently asked questions
When is Dhanteras 2026?
Dhanteras 2026 is on Friday, 6 November 2026. Trayodashi tithi begins at 10:30 AM on 6 November and ends at 10:47 AM on 7 November (IST, Chandigarh, per Drik Panchang). The puja and Yama Deepam are both done on the evening of 6 November, two days before Diwali Lakshmi Puja on 8 November.
What is the Dhanteras puja muhurat in Chandigarh?
The Chandigarh muhurat is 6:00 PM to 7:54 PM on 6 November 2026. This is the Vrishabha Kaal, a fixed lagna, inside Pradosh Kaal (5:31 PM to 8:09 PM), per Drik Panchang. Delhi-based sites show a slightly different window because sunset and calculation methods differ, so use your own city's timing.
What should I buy on Dhanteras if I have a small budget?
A steel or brass utensil, a small silver coin or a new broom is fully traditional. No scripture says the purchase must be expensive. In my practice, I tell families that buying within your means, with money you already have, is better than buying gold on credit. The intention and the puja carry the meaning.
Is it bad to buy iron or sharp objects on Dhanteras?
It is a custom, not a rule from the shastras. Many North Indian families avoid buying iron, knives or black items on this day, often linking iron to Saturn. If your family follows that custom, keep it. If you need a steel utensil, stainless steel is widely bought and considered fine.
Can NRIs in Canada or the USA celebrate Dhanteras 2026 on local time?
Yes, follow your local date and sunset. For Dhanteras 2026, Drik Panchang gives 6 November in Lancaster, California, with a puja muhurat of 5:22 PM to 7:14 PM local time. Families in Canada, Australia and New Zealand should check the panchang for their own city rather than converting India's timing.
Which god is worshipped on Dhanteras?
Lord Dhanvantari, Goddess Lakshmi, Lord Ganesha and Kubera are worshipped. Dhanvantari is linked with health and Ayurveda, Kubera with stored wealth. Yamraj is honoured through the Yama Deepam lamp placed at the main door facing south, which families light for the long life of everyone in the household.
Can I consult Astro Sandeep online before Dhanteras?
Yes. I offer 30-minute personal sessions online and at my Mohali office. You share your date, time and place of birth when booking. Clients from the Chandigarh tricity, other Indian cities and NRI families abroad use the online option, and I convert birth time correctly for births outside India.
Planning your Dhanteras 2026 the calm way
Dhanteras 2026 is a good day to begin, not a day to panic-buy. Do the puja between 6:00 PM and 7:54 PM in Chandigarh, light the Yama Deepam, and buy one thing that fits your rashi and your pocket. If you want to know how your own chart looks for money, business or property this year, book a consultation with Astro Sandeep. You can also message me on WhatsApp with your birth details to fix a time.
Disclaimer: Astrology, Lal Kitab, numerology and tarot offer guidance based on traditional principles. They are not a substitute for medical, legal, financial, immigration or psychological advice, and no astrologer can guarantee an outcome.
