Dhanteras 2026: Date, Puja Muhurat and Venus Remedies to Welcome Lakshmi

Dhanteras opens the five days of Diwali, and it is one of the most auspicious days of the year for inviting wealth, health and prosperity into the home. This year the festival carries a special astrological flavour: Venus, the planet of luxury and abundance, is retrograde and in an exchange of signs with Mercury. Here is what Dhanteras 2026 means, when to do the puja, and simple remedies you can follow to welcome Goddess Lakshmi.

Dhanteras 2026: Date and Puja Muhurat

• Date: Friday, 6 November 2026
• Trayodashi tithi: begins 10:30 AM on 6 November and ends 10:47 AM on 7 November
• Dhanteras puja muhurat: 6:02 PM to 7:57 PM
• Pradosh Kaal: 5:32 PM to 8:09 PM
• Vrishabha Kaal: 6:02 PM to 7:57 PM

Timings are for New Delhi. They change by a few minutes in other cities, so check your local panchang.

Why Is Dhanteras Celebrated?

The name comes from Dhan (wealth) and Teras (the thirteenth day, Trayodashi, of the waning moon). According to the Puranas, during the churning of the ocean (Samudra Manthan), Lord Dhanvantari, the physician of the gods, emerged on this day holding a pot of amrit. That is why Dhanteras is also called Dhanvantari Jayanti and is observed in India as National Ayurveda Day, a reminder that good health is the first wealth.

Dhanteras is equally the day to worship Goddess Lakshmi, the giver of prosperity, and Lord Kubera, the treasurer of the gods. In the evening, families also light the Yama Deepam, a lamp for Lord Yama, praying for the long life and protection of everyone in the home.

What's Happening With Venus Right Now?

Venus Retrograde Changes the Energy

In astrology, Venus represents luxury, wealth, beauty, relationships, and comfort. Its retrograde phase is traditionally associated with reassessing what we value and how we attract abundance.

The Hidden Connection With Goddess Lakshmi

Your Relationships May Hold a Blessing

Venus is associated with feminine energy and prosperity. This Diwali, honour and appreciate the important women in your life, especially your mother, wife, and other women who support you. Sometimes, abundance begins with gratitude.

Venus & Mercury: An Interesting Exchange

Two Planets, One Powerful Connection

With Venus in Virgo and Mercury in Libra, the planets form a Parivartana Yoga, or exchange of signs. Astrologically, this connects Venus's themes of beauty and luxury with Mercury's themes of intelligence, communication, and practical thinking.

Don't Just Show Off Your Wealth

Choose Practicality Over Show-Off

Instead of spending only to impress others this Diwali, focus on purchases that are useful, meaningful, and valuable. The message of this planetary combination is to balance luxury with practicality.

Remedy 1: Honour Lord Ganesha

Activate Mercury's Energy First

In traditional astrology, Mercury is associated with green, while Lord Ganesha is worshipped for wisdom and the removal of obstacles. Begin your Dhanteras puja by offering green dhruva (durva) grass to Lord Ganesha.

Remedy 2: A Different Dhanteras Purchase

Buy Something That Represents Abundance

Along with traditional Dhanteras purchases, consider buying a beautiful piece of luxury stationery. A premium notebook, diary, or pen symbolically connects Mercury's energy of learning and communication with Venus's energy of luxury.

Simple Dhanteras Puja Vidhi at Home

1. Clean the home, especially the entrance, and decorate it with rangoli and a toran of marigolds and mango leaves.
2. In the evening muhurat, place idols or pictures of Lord Ganesha, Goddess Lakshmi, Lord Kubera and Lord Dhanvantari on a clean red or yellow cloth.
3. Start with Lord Ganesha: offer durva grass, flowers and a diya.
4. Offer kumkum, haldi, rice, flowers, sweets and the items you bought today to Lakshmi and Kubera, and pray for prosperity in the home.
5. Offer prayers to Lord Dhanvantari for the good health of your family.
6. After the puja, light the Yama Deepam: a four-wick lamp of mustard oil placed outside the main door, facing south.

What to Buy on Dhanteras

• Gold or silver, such as a coin with Lakshmi and Ganesha, or small jewellery
• Brass, copper or steel utensils, such as a kalash, plate or lota
• Dhaniya (coriander seeds), offered in the puja and kept with your savings
• A new broom (jhadu), traditionally linked with sweeping away poverty
• Clay diyas for the five days of Diwali
• A premium notebook, diary or pen, the special Venus and Mercury remedy for this year

Traditionally, people avoid buying iron, sharp objects and black items on Dhanteras.

Not Every Diwali Remedy Works the Same for Everyone

Your Venus, Mercury, and the planetary combinations in your birth chart can influence how these astrological themes are interpreted. Understanding your Kundli helps you choose remedies suited to your chart.

Plan Your 2027 With Your Own Chart

Every remedy works best when it suits your own planets and dashas. Our astrologers study your Kundli personally and guide you from there.

• Book your 2027 Year Ahead Report: your complete year, month by month, with your Dasha, Naadi transits and personal remedies, delivered to your email within 25 days.
• Book a Kundali Reading: a personal call with our astrologer about your chart and your questions.

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Wishing you and your family a very happy and prosperous Dhanteras.