Dhanteras 2026
Dhanteras 2026 falls on in Delhi, India (Pradosh Kaal, computed for local sunset).
Dates are computed for Delhi, India (Udaya Tithi, Smarta convention; Pradosh dated by sunset, Sankashti by moonrise). See about for the full method and the Vaishnava difference on kshaya dates.
About Dhanteras
Dhanteras, also called Dhantrayodashi, opens the five-day Diwali festival on the Trayodashi of the waning fortnight. It honours Dhanvantari, the physician of the gods, who is said to have risen from the churning of the ocean bearing the pot of amrit, together with Lakshmi and Kubera as givers of wealth.
Families buy metal — gold, silver or a simple utensil — and light lamps at the door in the evening; in many traditions one lamp is offered to Yama for protection from untimely loss. Homes are cleaned and decorated for the days ahead, and traders open new account books.
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Day details for
| Tithi at sunrise | Krishna Dvadasi |
|---|---|
| Tithi window | 10:36 (-1 day) – 10:31 |
| Nakshatra | Hasta |
| Sunrise | 06:36 IST |
| Sunset | 17:32 IST |
| Moonrise | 03:40 |
| Moonset | 15:35 |
| Madhyahna (local noon) | 12:04 |
| Pradosh Kaal (2 Muhurta after sunset) | 17:32 – 19:08 |
| Nishita Kaal (8th of 15 night divisions) | 23:38 – 00:31 (+1 day) |
All times are for Delhi, India (IST). The festival-specific observance anchor for this page is Pradosh Kaal, computed for local sunset.
Year comparison
| Year | Date | Weekday | Tithi at sunrise (window) | Dating anchor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Friday | 10:36 (-1 day) – 10:31 | Pradosh Kaal, computed for local sunset | |
| 2027 | Wednesday | 01:04 – 22:50 | Pradosh Kaal, computed for local sunset |
Other years
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Methodology and reference
Dates on this page are computed astronomically — sidereal solar and lunar longitudes with the Lahiri (Chitrapaksha) ayanamsa — and dated by the classical rules of Dharmasindhu and Muhurta Chintamani (Udaya Tithi, Pradosh-vyapini and Aparahna conventions as applicable). Every value is regression-checked against Rashtriya Panchang, the official almanac compiled by Positional Astronomy Centre, IMD (Government of India) in Kolkata; the full method is described on the about page.
Frequently asked questions
- When is Dhanteras in 2026?
- Dhanteras 2026 falls on Friday, 6 November 2026 in Delhi, India (Pradosh Kaal, computed for local sunset).
- What is Dhanteras?
- Dhanteras, also called Dhantrayodashi, opens the five-day Diwali festival on the Trayodashi of the waning fortnight. It honours Dhanvantari, the physician of the gods, who is said to have risen from the churning of the ocean bearing the pot of amrit, together with Lakshmi and Kubera as givers of wealth.
- How is Dhanteras observed?
- Families buy metal — gold, silver or a simple utensil — and light lamps at the door in the evening; in many traditions one lamp is offered to Yama for protection from untimely loss. Homes are cleaned and decorated for the days ahead, and traders open new account books.
- Why might Dhanteras fall on a different day elsewhere?
- Observance dates follow the tithi current at local sunrise, so cities with different sunrise times can observe a day earlier or later. Vaishnava calendars also shift dates when a tithi touches no sunrise (kshaya).