🙏 Bhagwan Dhanvantari & Maa Lakshmi

Dhanteras (Dhanvantari Trayodashi)

🗓️ Kartik Krishna Trayodashi, at Pradosh Kaal (Oct–Nov)

The story behind Dhanteras (Dhanvantari Trayodashi)

Dhanteras opens the five days of Deepawali on Kartik Krishna Trayodashi. It marks the appearance of Bhagwan Dhanvantari, the physician of the devas, who rose from the churning of the ocean holding the pot of amrita — which is why the day belongs to health as much as to wealth. Households buy metal, and light a deep at the threshold facing south for Yama. The 'dhan' of Dhanteras is read in tradition as sound health and right livelihood, of which purchased metal is only the token.

Dhanteras (Dhanvantari Trayodashi) Puja Vidhi

  1. 1

    Dhanvantari Puja

    Worship Bhagwan Dhanvantari at pradosh kaal with yellow flowers and a naivedya of jaggery, praying for the health of the household.

  2. 2

    Lakshmi-Kubera Puja

    Place newly bought metal, coins or utensils before Maa Lakshmi and Kubera, and offer kumkum, akshata, lotus flowers and batasha.

  3. 3

    Yama Deepam

    Light a four-wicked deep of sesame oil and set it at the threshold facing south after sunset, offered for protection from untimely death.

  4. 4

    Deep Prajwalan

    Light rows of deeps at the entrance, tulsi vrinda and courtyard, and keep the house's main door open through the pradosh period.

Dhanteras (Dhanvantari Trayodashi) Mantra

ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय धन्वन्तरये अमृतकलशहस्ताय सर्वामयविनाशाय त्रैलोक्यनाथाय श्रीमहाविष्णवे नमः॥

Meaning

Salutations to Bhagwan Dhanvantari, holding the pot of amrita, destroyer of all illness, lord of the three worlds, who is Shri Mahavishnu himself.

How to chant

Chant 21 or 108 times during the pradosh kaal puja, facing north.

When is Dhanteras (Dhanvantari Trayodashi)?

YearDate
2025Saturday, 18 October 2025
2026Friday, 6 November 2026
2027Wednesday, 27 October 2027
2028Monday, 16 October 2028
2029Sunday, 4 November 2029

Dates are computed with the Drik (observational) method from real solar and lunar positions, using sunrise-to-sunrise Tithi assignment for New Delhi.

Does Dhanteras (Dhanvantari Trayodashi) fall on the same date everywhere?

Dhanteras (Dhanvantari Trayodashi)'s date is decided by which lunar day (tithi) is prevailing at sunset — not sunrise. Because sunset happens at a different moment in each city, Dhanteras (Dhanvantari Trayodashi) can fall on different calendar dates in different countries, even though everyone is observing the same astronomical event.

CityDate
New DelhiFri, 6 November
New YorkFri, November 6
LondonFri 6 November
TorontoFri, November 6
SydneyFri 6 November
DubaiFri, 6 November
SingaporeFri, 6 November

These dates follow the panchang convention computed for each city's own coordinates — they are not a universal verdict. Some temples and communities shift observance to a weekend regardless of the computed date, and published panchang authorities recommend using your own city's panchang rather than a single worldwide date. Confirm with your local temple or community before treating a date as final.

Festivals around Dhanteras (Dhanvantari Trayodashi)

All Hindu festivals →See the full Vedic calendar →Today's Panchang & muhurtas →

Dhanteras (Dhanvantari Trayodashi) FAQs

Dhanteras (Dhanvantari Trayodashi) falls on 6 November 2026, based on Kaala's Drik Panchang calculation for the corresponding Tithi.

Dhanteras (Dhanvantari Trayodashi) is dated according to the lunar Tithi, not the fixed Gregorian calendar, so its Gregorian date shifts from year to year while its position in the lunar calendar stays consistent.

The astronomical event Dhanteras (Dhanvantari Trayodashi) marks happens at the same instant everywhere in the world, but which calendar day that instant falls on locally depends on each city's own timing — so cities in different countries can observe Dhanteras (Dhanvantari Trayodashi) a day apart.