Dhanteras, also known as Dhanatrayodashi, is a Hindu festival observed on the thirteenth lunar day of the dark fortnight associated with Kartik. Celebrated as part of the Diwali festival period, it is traditionally associated with Goddess Lakshmi, Lord Dhanvantari, and the worship of Yama. Popular legends explain the festival's connections with prosperity, health, and longevity. Common observances include lighting lamps, performing puja, cleaning homes, and purchasing gold or utensils, although customs vary across regions and families.
Dhanteras Puja on 6th November 2026, Friday / शुक्रवार
Dhanteras Puja Muhurat - 06:02 PM to 07:57 PM
Duration - 01 Hour 56 Mins
Yama Deepam on Friday, November 06, 2026
Dhanteras is an important Hindu festival associated with prosperity, well-being, and the beginning of Diwali celebrations. Also known as Dhanatrayodashi, it is observed on the thirteenth lunar day associated with Kartik and is linked to several traditional stories involving Goddess Lakshmi, Lord Dhanvantari, and Yama, the god of death.
But what is the story behind Dhanteras, and why do people light lamps, worship deities, and purchase gold or utensils on this day?
Different legends offer different explanations for these customs. The story of King Hima and his son highlights the significance of lamps and the traditional association with Yama, while the narratives of Dhanvantari connect the festival with the emergence of the Amrit Kalash during Samudra Manthan. Another popular narrative links Goddess Lakshmi with prosperity and the tradition of welcoming her into the home.
Exploring these stories helps explain the religious significance of Dhanteras and the traditions through which families observe the festival today.
The word Dhanteras combines dhan, meaning wealth, and teras, a traditional term for the thirteenth lunar day. Also known as Dhanatrayodashi, the festival falls on the thirteenth tithi of the dark fortnight associated with the Hindu lunar month of Kartik. It marks an important occasion in the lead-up to Diwali.
Dhanteras is associated with prosperity, well-being, and the worship of Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Dhanvantari. According to popular Hindu traditions, the festival is connected with the emergence of divine treasures during Samudra Manthan, the churning of the cosmic ocean. Narratives associated with this event connect Goddess Lakshmi with prosperity and Dhanvantari with the Amrit Kalash, the vessel containing the divine nectar of immortality.
One of the best-known Dhanteras customs is purchasing gold, silver, or new utensils. Many devotees regard these purchases as symbolic expressions of prosperity and auspicious beginnings. However, customs differ between regions and families, and purchasing precious metals is not a universal religious requirement.
The festival's significance extends beyond material wealth. Through prayer, lighting lamps, cleaning and decorating homes, and other customary observances, families welcome the Diwali season and express their hopes for well-being and prosperity.
Dhanteras is associated with several popular Hindu legends that explain its religious significance and the traditions observed during the festival. These stories connect Dhanteras with prosperity, health, longevity, and the symbolic importance of lighting lamps.
Three well-known narratives are particularly relevant to understanding the festival:
The legend of King Hima and his son: This story explains the traditional association between Dhanteras, lighting lamps, and Yama, the god of death.
The legend of Lord Dhanvantari and the Amrit Kalash: This connects Dhanteras with Samudra Manthan, the churning of the cosmic ocean, and Dhanvantari's emergence carrying the vessel of divine nectar.
The legend of Goddess Lakshmi and the farmer: This popular narrative explains the festival's association with prosperity, devotion, and welcoming Goddess Lakshmi into the home.
These narratives should be understood as religious and devotional traditions rather than as a single, independently established historical text of the festival's origin. Different texts, regional traditions, and retellings may emphasize different aspects of Dhanteras.
Together, the stories help explain why devotees associate Dhanteras with auspicious beginnings, prayers for well-being, and preparations for Diwali.
One popular legend associated with Dhanteras tells the story of King Hima, his son, and a young bride whose devotion and cleverness are said to have helped save her husband's life. The narrative explains the traditional association between Dhanteras, the lighting of lamps, and Yama, the Hindu deity of death.
According to the story, King Hima was a just ruler who deeply loved his sixteen-year-old son. One day, astrologers predicted that the prince would die from a snakebite on the fourth day after his marriage. Concerned about this prediction, the king sought a way to protect his son.
The prince eventually married a young woman whose horoscope was considered auspicious. When the predicted night arrived, his wife devised a plan to keep him awake and prevent him from falling asleep.
She illuminated the entrance and rooms with numerous lamps and placed gold and silver ornaments near the doorway of their chamber. She then sang songs and told stories throughout the night, keeping her husband awake.
As the legend continues, Yama arrived in the form of a serpent to claim the prince's life. However, the brilliance of the lamps and the glitter of the ornaments caught his attention. Drawn to the scene, Yama listened to the young woman's songs and remained there through the night.
By the time the night passed, the predicted moment had gone by, and the prince was spared. In this popular narrative, the young bride's ingenuity and the illumination of the house become central to the story's resolution.
The story is commonly associated with the tradition of lighting lamps in connection with Yama and with prayers for longevity and protection. It also highlights the role of courage, presence of mind, and devotion in the narrative. The precise relationship between this story and regional Dhanteras or Yama Deepam observances should be explained with reference to the relevant textual or cultural tradition.
One of the principal religious narratives associated with Dhanteras concerns Lord Dhanvantari, who is revered in Hindu traditions as a divine figure associated with Ayurveda and healing. The story connects the festival with Samudra Manthan, the churning of the cosmic ocean, and the emergence of the Amrit Kalash, the vessel containing divine nectar.
According to the popular narrative, the Devas (gods) and Asuras (a class of powerful beings often described as demons in simplified retellings) participated in the churning of the cosmic ocean. Acting on the guidance of Lord Vishnu, the preserver and protector, they used Mount Mandara as the churning rod and Vasuki, the serpent, as the rope.
As the ocean was churned, various divine beings and treasures emerged. In a well-known narrative associated with Dhanteras, Dhanvantari appeared carrying a pot of Amrit, the nectar traditionally associated with immortality. His emergence is remembered as an important part of the festival's religious significance and its connection with health and well-being.
The Samudra Manthan narrative is also closely associated with Goddess Lakshmi, who emerged from the ocean in a widely known version of the story. Her association with prosperity helps explain why Lakshmi worship forms an important part of Dhanteras and the broader Diwali festival period.
The tradition connects Dhanvantari with the preservation of life and the knowledge of Ayurveda. Devotees who worship him on Dhanteras may express prayers for health, well-being, and longevity. The Amrit Kalash represents divine nectar within the religious narrative; it should not be understood as evidence of a scientifically established substance that grants immortality.
Dhanteras is associated with material prosperity, as well as well-being and the preservation of life. The specific stories and their details vary across Hindu textual and devotional traditions, so claims about their precise origins should be supported by relevant sources.
Another popular story associated with Dhanteras connects Goddess Lakshmi with prosperity, devotion, and the well-being of farming communities. In this traditional narrative, the goddess's encounter with a farmer explains why some devotees associate the festival with welcoming Lakshmi into their homes and praying for abundance.
According to the story, Goddess Lakshmi once asked Lord Vishnu to accompany him on a visit to the earthly realm. Vishnu agreed on the condition that she would not travel towards the south. However, during their journey, Lakshmi became captivated by the beauty of mustard flowers and sugarcane fields in the southern direction. She went towards the fields, picked flowers, and tasted the sugarcane.
Vishnu was displeased that she had disregarded his condition. As punishment, he instructed Lakshmi to remain on earth for twelve years and serve the farmer whose fields she had visited.
During this period, the farmer's fortunes improved, and his fields prospered. When Vishnu returned to take Lakshmi back after twelve years, the farmer was reluctant to let her leave. Lakshmi then revealed her identity and explained that her presence had been responsible for the farmer's good fortune.
In this popular retelling, Lakshmi promised to visit the farmer each year on the night associated with Dhanteras. The farmer began cleaning his home and preparing to welcome the goddess, and the custom spread to others who wished to receive her blessings.
The story expresses the traditional association between Goddess Lakshmi and prosperity, agricultural abundance, and devotion. It also helps explain the symbolic importance of cleaning and preparing the home to welcome the goddess during the Diwali festival period.
17" Lord Vishnu Standing on Sheshnag with Lakshmi Ji in Brass Statue
Dhanteras is observed through a variety of devotional practices associated with prosperity, well-being, and the beginning of Diwali celebrations. Although customs vary between regions and families, common observances include cleaning and decorating the home, performing puja, lighting lamps, and purchasing gold or utensils as a symbol of auspicious beginnings.
Many families clean their homes before Dhanteras and decorate entrances with flowers, rangoli, and other traditional designs. These preparations symbolize welcoming auspiciousness and making the home ready for the Diwali festival period.
Goddess Lakshmi is widely associated with prosperity and abundance in Hindu traditions. On Dhanteras, devotees may offer prayers, flowers, lamps, and other customary offerings to seek her blessings. The precise puja procedure and offerings vary according to family traditions and regional practices.
Dhanteras is also associated with Lord Dhanvantari, a revered figure connected with Ayurveda and healing. Devotees may offer prayers for health and well-being. This observance reflects the festival's religious association with the preservation of life alongside its connection with prosperity.
Lighting lamps is an important feature of several Dhanteras traditions. In some communities, a lamp is offered in connection with Yama, the deity associated with death. This observance is commonly referred to as Yama Deepam or by related regional names.
The customs surrounding the lamp, its placement, and the associated prayers differ across traditions. Specific directions or procedures should be explained with reference to the relevant regional or family practice rather than presented as universal requirements.
Many people purchase gold, silver, or new utensils on Dhanteras because these items are traditionally associated with prosperity and auspicious beginnings. The practice is a cultural and devotional custom, not a requirement for every Hindu household. People who do not make purchases may observe the festival through prayer, lighting lamps, or other customary activities.
Dhanteras observances can differ according to region, community, and family tradition. Some households emphasize Lakshmi worship, others give particular attention to Dhanvantari, and some observe customs associated with Yama. Readers should follow the traditions meaningful to their family or community and consult a trusted local religious authority for specific ritual procedures.
The date and auspicious timing of Dhanteras Puja depend on the Hindu lunar calendar and the applicable Panchang calculations. For a date-specific guide, verify the tithi and puja muhurat for the relevant location and year before publishing the timings.
Dhanteras, also known as Dhanatrayodashi, is a Hindu festival associated with prosperity, well-being, and the worship of Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Dhanvantari. It is observed during the festival period leading up to Diwali.
Dhanteras is celebrated through traditions associated with prosperity, health, and auspicious beginnings. Popular religious narratives connect the festival with Goddess Lakshmi, Lord Dhanvantari, and Yama.
The name is commonly explained through the words dhan, meaning wealth, and teras, referring to the thirteenth lunar day. The festival is associated with the thirteenth tithi in the relevant Kartik lunar-calendar tradition.
In a popular legend, a young bride uses lamps, ornaments, and songs to keep her husband awake on the night he is predicted to die from a snakebite. Yama arrives but remains until the night passes, and the prince survives in the story.
Lord Dhanvantari is a revered figure in Hindu traditions associated with Ayurveda and healing. His emergence carrying the Amrit Kalash during the Samudra Manthan narrative is connected with Dhanteras observances.
Many people purchase gold, silver, or utensils because these items are traditionally associated with prosperity and auspicious beginnings. This is a cultural custom, not a guarantee of financial gain or a universal religious requirement.
Yama Deepam is a lamp-lighting observance associated with Yama, the Hindu deity of death. Its precise timing and procedure can differ according to regional and family traditions.
Yes. Goddess Lakshmi is associated with prosperity and is worshipped during Dhanteras and the broader Diwali festival period. Popular narratives connect her with the emergence of divine treasures during Samudra Manthan.
Common observances include cleaning and decorating homes, lighting lamps, performing puja, and purchasing gold or utensils. The specific rituals and offerings vary among communities and households.
Dhanteras is observed according to the Hindu lunar calendar. The date and auspicious puja timing should be checked against a reliable Panchang for the relevant year and location.
Dhanteras is an important part of the Diwali festival period, bringing together traditions associated with prosperity, well-being, and devotion. The stories of King Hima, Lord Dhanvantari, and Goddess Lakshmi offer different perspectives on the festival's religious significance and the customs observed by devotees.
From lighting lamps and performing puja to decorating homes and purchasing auspicious items, Dhanteras traditions reflect the hopes and values that families associate with this occasion. Although practices vary across communities, the festival remains an opportunity to welcome the Diwali season with prayer, gratitude, and hope for a prosperous year ahead.
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