Every year, just before Diwali, jewelry stores across India stay open late, crowds pack the bazaars, and people line up to buy gold coins, silver, shiny new steel pots and even brooms. That day is Dhanteras, the first day of the five-day Diwali festival. In 2026, Dhanteras falls on Friday, November 6.
So what exactly is Dhanteras, why is buying gold and utensils considered lucky, and what are the old stories behind it? Here is a simple guide for anyone curious, whether you celebrate it or you just noticed your Indian friends and coworkers talking about it.
What Is Dhanteras?
The name comes from two words: dhan, meaning wealth, and teras, meaning thirteenth. Dhanteras is also called Dhanatrayodashi, because it falls on the 13th lunar day (trayodashi) of the waning half of the moon in the Hindu month of Kartika (or Ashvin, in the calendar used in western and southern India). Two days later comes the new moon night of Lakshmi Puja, the main day of Diwali.
Dhanteras celebrates two things that go together in many families' prayers: wealth and good health. People worship Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity, Lord Kubera, the treasurer of the gods, and Lord Dhanvantari, the god of medicine and Ayurveda.
When Is Dhanteras 2026?
Dhanteras 2026 is on Friday, November 6, 2026. According to published Hindu calendars, the trayodashi tithi begins at about 10:31 a.m. IST on November 6 and ends at about 10:48 a.m. IST on November 7. The main puja is done in the evening, during the period after sunset known as Pradosh Kaal. Exact muhurat timings depend on your city, so families check a local panchang or temple calendar.
Here is where Dhanteras sits in the full Diwali 2026 calendar:
- Friday, November 6: Dhanteras
- Saturday, November 7: Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali)
- Sunday, November 8: Lakshmi Puja (Diwali)
- Monday, November 9: Govardhan Puja
- Tuesday, November 10: Bhai Dooj
For the full story of all five days, read our guide: When is Diwali 2026? Dates, meaning and the real story.
The Stories Behind Dhanteras
1. Dhanvantari and the ocean of milk
In Hindu mythology, the gods and the demons once churned the cosmic ocean of milk to find amrit, the nectar of immortality. This churning is called the Samudra Manthan. Many treasures rose from the ocean, including Goddess Lakshmi herself. At the end, Dhanvantari, the physician of the gods, emerged carrying a pot of amrit. Tradition holds that he appeared on this day, so Dhanteras is also celebrated as Dhanvantari Jayanti, and doctors and Ayurveda practitioners honor him.
For years, India's Ministry of Ayush marked National Ayurveda Day on Dhanteras because of this link. Since the date moved every year, the government fixed it in 2025 to September 23 every year instead. The tradition of honoring Dhanvantari on Dhanteras continues in homes and temples.
2. The prince, the lamps and the god of death
The second famous story is about a young prince, the son of King Hima. Astrologers predicted he would die of a snakebite on the fourth night after his wedding. His clever new wife refused to let him sleep that night. She piled her gold and silver ornaments and coins in a heap at the door and lit lamps all around the room, then told stories and sang songs to keep him awake.
When Yama, the god of death, arrived in the form of a serpent, he was dazzled by the glittering gold and the bright lamps. He could not get past, so he sat on the heap of jewels and listened to the songs all night. In the morning, he quietly left, and the prince's life was saved.
This is why many families light a lamp facing south, the direction associated with Yama, outside their homes on Dhanteras evening. It is called Yama Deepam or Yamadeepdaan, a prayer to protect the family from untimely death.
Why Do People Buy Gold, Silver and Utensils on Dhanteras?
Dhanteras is considered one of the most auspicious days of the year to buy something new, especially metal. The belief is that what you bring home on this day invites prosperity for the year ahead. The most common purchases:
- Gold and silver: coins with images of Lakshmi and Ganesha, jewelry, or small bars. Gold is a traditional store of wealth and a symbol of Lakshmi.
- Utensils: brass, copper and steel pots and plates. One explanation links this to Dhanvantari's pot of nectar, so a new vessel is said to bring health and abundance into the kitchen.
- Brooms: in many homes a new broom is bought, symbolizing sweeping away poverty and bad luck before Lakshmi arrives on Diwali.
- Whole coriander seeds: a small, cheap and common purchase, offered in the puja and sometimes planted afterwards as a sign of growth.
- Big-ticket items: today many families time the purchase of a car, a two-wheeler, a phone or home appliances for Dhanteras.
A big day for India's gold market
Because so many people buy at once, Dhanteras is one of the busiest days of the year for jewelers in India. Industry bodies often report tonnes of gold sold over the festival. In recent years "digital gold", gold ETFs and gold savings schemes have also become popular ways to observe the tradition without buying a physical coin.
If you are planning to buy gold this year, it helps to understand what moves the price. Our explainer on why gold prices go up and down covers interest rates, the dollar and festival demand. A few practical tips:
- Check that jewelry carries a BIS hallmark with its unique HUID code, which shows its purity.
- Compare the making charges, which can add a lot to the price of jewelry but are low on coins and bars.
- Ask for a proper bill. It matters if you ever sell or exchange the gold.
- Buy only what fits your budget. The tradition is about inviting prosperity, not about spending beyond your means.
How Dhanteras Is Celebrated
The day usually starts with cleaning and decorating the home. Families draw rangoli patterns at the entrance, and some draw small footprints with rice flour and vermilion leading into the house, as if welcoming Lakshmi inside. In the evening:
- Families perform a Lakshmi-Kubera puja with flowers, sweets and the newly bought gold, silver or utensils.
- Diyas (oil lamps) are lit, often 13 of them, and kept burning through the night.
- The Yama Deepam lamp is placed outside, facing south.
- In Maharashtra, people offer a simple sweet made of dried coriander seeds and jaggery.
- Many businesses, especially in western India, worship their account books and begin the festive season.
Dhanteras Around the World
Dhanteras is celebrated wherever Diwali is: by Hindu, Jain and Sikh communities across India and Nepal, and by the Indian diaspora in the United States, the UK, Canada, Australia, Singapore, the Gulf, Mauritius, Fiji and the Caribbean. Indian jewelers in places like Edison, New Jersey, Jackson Heights in New York, Leicester in the UK and Dubai's Gold Souk see some of their busiest evenings of the year.
Because the date follows the lunar calendar, local calendars in other time zones occasionally list the tithi a day apart, so families abroad often follow their local temple's calendar. The underlying idea, though, is the same everywhere: welcome light, health and prosperity at the start of the festival of lights. India's festivals all follow this lunar rhythm, which is also why the dates of Navratri shift every year.
Also read: What Is Chhath Puja? 2026 Dates, Meaning and Traditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Dhanteras in 2026?
Dhanteras 2026 is on Friday, November 6. The trayodashi tithi runs from about 10:31 a.m. IST on November 6 to about 10:48 a.m. IST on November 7.
What does Dhanteras mean?
"Dhan" means wealth and "teras" means the thirteenth day of the lunar fortnight. It is also called Dhanatrayodashi.
Why do people buy gold on Dhanteras?
Buying gold, silver or new metal utensils on Dhanteras is considered auspicious and is believed to bring prosperity. It is linked to Goddess Lakshmi and to Dhanvantari, who appeared with a pot of nectar.
Who is worshipped on Dhanteras?
Goddess Lakshmi, Lord Kubera and Lord Dhanvantari. In the evening, many families also light a lamp for Yama, the god of death, called Yama Deepam.
Is Dhanteras the same as Diwali?
Dhanteras is the first of Diwali's five days. The main Diwali night, Lakshmi Puja, comes two days later, on Sunday, November 8, 2026.
Is National Ayurveda Day still on Dhanteras?
No. It was observed on Dhanteras from 2016, but since 2025 India marks Ayurveda Day on a fixed date, September 23, every year.
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