Dhanteras 2026 falls on Friday, November 6, the first day of Diwali’s five-day festival. The word “Dhanteras” combines “Dhan” (wealth) and “Teras” (thirteenth, referring to Trayodashi tithi), making it the day dedicated to wealth, health, and prosperity.
An approximate shopping muhurat
Buying gold, silver, utensils, and worshipping Dhanvantari during Pradosh Kaal and Trayodashi tithi is considered auspicious. Published panchang sources give an approximate window of 5:33 PM to 7:24 PM for Delhi, though some sources give a slightly different range, so treat this as an approximate window, not the exact minute.
Pradosh Kaal begins at sunset and runs for about two hours and 24 minutes afterward. Since sunset varies by city, the window shifts accordingly. Someone in Mumbai will have a different Pradosh Kaal than someone in Kolkata, and a family in Toronto or London will have a very different one. This is the part most generic “Dhanteras 2026” articles miss: they publish Delhi’s timings and call it a day, when the whole point is that the window depends on where you are.
Also, avoid buying during Rahu Kaal. If Rahu Kaal overlaps with your Pradosh Kaal window (which can happen depending on the day and location), wait until it passes before making your purchase.
What’s traditionally bought
Gold or silver coins or jewellery, new brass or copper utensils, and a Lakshmi-Ganesh idol are traditionally considered auspicious purchases. Buying a broom is considered a symbol of sweeping away poverty.
A few things families commonly buy that people don’t always associate with Dhanteras: steel vessels, electronic appliances (treated as modern “utensils” for the household), and even vehicles. The underlying principle is that Dhanteras is for acquiring things that serve the household, not for personal luxuries. So a new mixer-grinder or a pressure cooker counts, but a designer handbag doesn’t carry the same traditional weight.
For NRI families shopping online, the question comes up: does the muhurat apply to when you click “buy” or when the item arrives? Most practitioners say the purchase moment (the transaction) is what matters, not the delivery. So placing an online order for gold coins during Pradosh Kaal is considered valid, even if the courier shows up three days later.
What to avoid buying
Iron and steel are sometimes avoided on Dhanteras in certain regional traditions, though this varies. Sharper items like knives or scissors are traditionally not purchased. The reasoning traces back to the Yamraj legend: sharp instruments are associated with Yama (the god of death), whose worship falls the next day on Naraka Chaturdashi instead.
Dhanvantari Puja
Before the shopping, there’s a puja. Lord Dhanvantari, the physician of the gods and the deity of Ayurveda, is worshipped on this evening. If anyone in the family is dealing with health issues, Dhanteras puja carries particular significance. The traditional offering includes lighting a diya with sesame or mustard oil, placing it near the Tulsi plant or at the main entrance, and reciting the Dhanvantari mantra.
How to check the exact time for your city
The precise Pradosh Kaal window depends on your city’s sunset. Select your city on the muhurat page to see that day’s sunset and Rahu Kaal, and shop with Rahu Kaal avoided. If you’re outside India, this is especially important because the default timings published everywhere assume Indian cities.