The five-day festivities of Diwali commence with the sacred observance of Dhantrayodashi, commonly known as Dhanteras. According to sacred traditions, this holy day marks the appearance of Lord Dhanvantari, the patron deity of Ayurveda and healing, who emerged during the churning of the cosmic ocean carrying a pot of celestial nectar. For this reason, the occasion is also observed as Dhanvantari Jayanti. Alongside prayers offered to the deity of wellness, the festival holds a solemn ritual dedicated to Yamraj, the lord of mortality. Families place a dedicated lamp, known as the Yam Deepam, outside the main entrance of their residences in the evening, an act traditionally believed to ward off untimely demise and shield households from misfortune.
Festival Schedule and Worship Muhurat
According to traditional calendar calculations, Dhanteras in 2026 falls on Friday, November 6. The Trayodashi Tithi officially begins at 10:30 AM on November 6, 2026, and concludes at 10:47 AM on November 7, 2026.
The most auspicious window for performing the evening worship rituals spans from 06:02 PM to 07:57 PM. Within this duration, the Pradosh Kaal extends from 05:33 PM to 08:09 PM, while the fixed Vrishabha Kaal prevails from 06:02 PM to 07:57 PM. The overlap of the fixed ascendant and twilight period is considered exceptionally propitious for welcoming wealth, health, and spiritual blessings into the home.
Favorable Shopping Hours and Choghadiya Periods
Acquiring new household goods, metals, and precious items is an integral custom associated with Dhanteras. For 2026, the broad favorable window for making purchases opens at 10:30 AM on November 6 and extends continuously until 06:37 AM on the morning of November 7.
Specific intervals throughout the day and night offer distinct planetary alignments for commerce under the Choghadiya system. The morning period covering Char, Labh, and Amrit runs from 10:30 AM to 10:43 AM. Later in the day, the afternoon Shubh window opens from 12:05 PM to 01:27 PM, followed by an afternoon Char window between 04:11 PM and 05:33 PM.
For evening and nighttime shoppers, the Labh period is active from 08:49 PM to 10:27 PM. Furthermore, a late-night to early-morning span comprising Shubh, Amrit, and Char runs from 12:05 AM to 04:59 AM on November 7, providing ample flexibility for traditional festive acquisitions.
Observance Practices and Spiritual Significance
Ritual observances on Dhanteras involve the Shodashopachara worship of Goddess Lakshmi, Kuber, and Lord Dhanvantari. Devotees offer flowers, sacred water, and prayers to invoke enduring prosperity and sound physical well-being.
The day is widely renowned for the purchase of brass and silver utensils, a practice believed to bring auspicious abundance to household fortunes. Buying gold ornaments or bullion is likewise treated as highly propitious, symbolizing long-term economic stability.
As twilight settles, earthen lamps illuminate the main entrance and internal courtyards of homes. An additional solitary lamp is lit facing south in reverence to Yamraj, completing the day's devotional cycle with prayers for safety and longevity.
