Dhanteras 2026: Date, Pradosh Muhurat Timings for 6 Cities

Dhanteras opens the Diwali season. In 2026 it falls on Friday, 6 November. This guide covers what the day marks, how its date is decided, and the evening muhurat for six cities.

What Dhanteras is

The name joins dhan, meaning wealth or prosperity, with teras, the thirteenth lunar day. It is the first day of the multi-day Diwali observance.

Traditionally, the day is associated with Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity, and with Dhanvantari, the divine physician of the Puranic tradition. For that reason many households see it as a day for gratitude about both wellbeing and livelihood.

Common customs include:

• Cleaning and decorating the home, often with rangoli at the entrance
• Lighting lamps in the evening
• Evening prayers to Lakshmi and Dhanvantari
• Marking the day with a small, meaningful purchase, such as a utensil. This is a family custom, not an obligation.

Customs differ by region and family, and all of them are valid. The spirit of the day is care for one's home and one's health, with thanks for what one already has.

How the date is fixed

Dhanteras follows the lunar calendar, so its English date changes each year. It belongs to the lunar month of Ashvin and falls on the thirteenth lunar day (trayodashi) of the waning fortnight.

The timing rule is pradosh. Pradosh is the evening period just after sunset. When the thirteenth lunar day is present during this evening window, that day is taken as Dhanteras. The puja is then done within that window, which is why the muhurat is an evening time and not a morning one.

Sunset differs from city to city, so the muhurat differs too. A family in Guwahati and a family in Mumbai observe Dhanteras on the same date but at different clock times.

Date and muhurat for 2026

Date: Friday, 6 November 2026

All times below are in Indian Standard Time (IST). The muhurat is the pradosh window suited to the evening Lakshmi–Dhanvantari puja.

• Delhi: 5:33 PM to 8:10 PM (sunrise 6:37 AM)
• Mumbai: 6:03 PM to 8:35 PM (sunrise 6:41 AM)
• Kolkata: 4:56 PM to 7:30 PM (sunrise 5:44 AM)
• Chennai: 5:41 PM to 8:10 PM (sunrise 6:04 AM)
• Bengaluru: 5:52 PM to 8:20 PM (sunrise 6:15 AM)
• Guwahati: 4:38 PM to 7:14 PM (sunrise 5:35 AM)

The eastern cities, Kolkata and Guwahati, have the earliest windows because the sun sets earlier there. Mumbai has the latest start of the six.

Planning your evening

A few simple points may help:

• Prepare before the window opens. Clean the space and set out the lamps and the items for your puja beforehand, so you can begin without rushing.
• Use the window as a guide, not a deadline. The muhurat is the traditionally favoured time. Many families simply do their best within the evening.
• Follow your family's tradition. If your household has its own way of marking the day, that matters more than any general description.

Check your own city

The six cities above are only a sample. If you live elsewhere, even a town not far from these cities, sunset and therefore the muhurat will differ by a few minutes or more. Check the exact timings for your location on the Dhanteras festival page. Hindi readers can use the Hindi page for Dhanteras.

To see the lunar day and other daily details for your date, open the daily Panchang. You can also browse the full festival calendar to plan the other days of Diwali.

Wishing you and your family a calm and happy Dhanteras.