Dhanteras
In 2026, Dhanteras falls on Friday, 6 November 2026.
History & Mythology
Dhanteras — Dhanatrayodashi — opens the five days of Diwali. When the devas and asuras churned the ocean of milk, Dhanvantari, physician of the gods, rose from the waters on this day bearing the kalasha of amrita, which is why the day is sacred to health before it is sacred to wealth, and why it is observed as the National Ayurveda Day.
Buying gold, silver, or even a single new utensil on Dhanteras invites Lakshmi into the year's accounts; Kubera, treasurer of the gods, is worshipped beside her. As dusk falls, a Yama Deepa is set facing south — the only day of the year a lamp honours the Lord of Death directly. The custom recalls the young prince fated to die of snakebite on the fourth night of his marriage, whose bride heaped her ornaments in a dazzling pile and told stories till dawn: Yama, arriving as a serpent, was blinded by the glitter and beguiled by the tales, and left without his prize.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How are Hindu festival dates calculated?
Hindu festival dates are calculated using the Panchang — the Vedic almanac based on Tithi (lunar day), Nakshatra (Moon's asterism), and other astronomical factors. Most festivals fall on specific Tithis in particular lunar months. AstroJanamPatrika calculates these using Swiss Ephemeris, making dates accurate to the minute rather than relying on pre-printed almanacs.
What is Tithi in the Hindu calendar?
Tithi is the lunar day in the Hindu calendar, determined by the angular distance between the Moon and Sun in multiples of 12°. There are 30 Tithis in a lunar month — 15 in the waxing phase (Shukla Paksha) and 15 in the waning phase (Krishna Paksha). Most Hindu festivals are tied to specific Tithis, which is why their Gregorian calendar dates change each year.
Why do Hindu festival dates change every year?
Hindu festivals follow the lunisolar calendar, not the Gregorian solar calendar. Because the lunar year is about 11 days shorter than the solar year, festivals drift earlier each year — and an intercalary month (Adhika Masa) is added roughly every 2–3 years to realign the calendar with the solar year. This is why Diwali, Navratri, and other festivals fall on different Gregorian dates each year.
What is Shubh Muhurta for festival rituals?
Shubh Muhurta is the auspicious time window for performing festival rituals, determined by combining Tithi, Nakshatra, Yoga, Vara, and Choghadiya. AstroJanamPatrika calculates the precise muhurta for each festival based on local sunrise, Tithi end times, and auspicious Nakshatras.
What is Purnima and Amavasya?
Purnima is the full moon day (15th Tithi of Shukla Paksha) when Moon and Sun are 180° apart. Amavasya is the new moon day when they are conjunct. Both are highly significant in the Hindu calendar — Purnima for celebrations and Amavasya for ancestor rituals (Pitru Tarpan). Festivals like Holi, Guru Purnima, and Sharad Purnima all fall on Purnima.