Dhanteras dates

When Dhanteras falls in 2026, 2027 and 2028: the day and the pradoṣa time to set the lamp for Yama, for Delhi and cities abroad.

City

Next Dhanteras in Delhi

Friday, 6 November 2026

Dhanteras is in 19 days. In Delhi the Trayodaśī is current at Friday’s pradoṣa, when the lamp for Yama is set outside.

Yama-dīpa, pradoṣa17:31 – 20:08

TrayodaśīFri 10:31 – Sat 10:48

Dhanteras 2026: every city and why

Dhanteras dates, 2026 to 2028

Pradoṣa, each city’s own time

Year	Delhi	London	New York City	Sydney
Dhanteras 2026	Fri 6 Nov 17:31 – 20:08	Fri 6 Nov 16:23 – 19:19	Fri 6 Nov 16:45 – 19:31	Fri 6 Nov 19:26 – 21:31
Dhanteras 2027	Wed 27 Oct 17:39 – 20:13	Wed 27 Oct 17:41 – 18:20	Tue 26 Oct 17:58 – 20:39	Wed 27 Oct 19:17 – 21:25
Dhanteras 2028	Sun 15 Oct 19:17 – 20:20	Sun 15 Oct 18:04 – 20:45	Sun 15 Oct 18:13 – 20:48	Mon 16 Oct 19:08 – 21:15

Dhanteras is the dark-fortnight Trayodaśī that is current at pradoṣa, the three muhūrtas after sunset, when the lamp is set out. If it is current at pradoṣa on both days, or on neither, the later day is taken: the Dharmasindhu gives a dark Trayodaśī the later day. Joining the two texts this way is our reading. Nirṇaya-sindhu p. 294; Dharmasindhu pp. 20, 76

The texts prescribe one rite for the day: a lamp for Yama, set outside the house at nightfall, so that untimely death is averted. Nirṇaya-sindhu p. 294; Dharmasindhu p. 76

Lamps are waved in the early night on five evenings, from the dark Dvādaśī to the Pratipadā, for the gods, brāhmaṇas, cows, horses, elders and the women of the house; the Trayodaśī is the second. A three-night cow vow also begins on this Trayodaśī. Nirṇaya-sindhu p. 294; Dharmasindhu p. 76

Popular practice: the names Dhanteras and Dhana-trayodaśī, buying gold, silver, metal or utensils, the worship of Dhanvantari, Lakṣmī or Kubera, and the five days from Dhanteras to Bhai Dooj. The texts read do not give them.

In popular practice, Dhanteras opens the five days of Diwali. Diwali dates.

Questions

From the Nirṇaya-sindhu, p. 294, and the Dharmasindhu, pp. 20 and 76.

When is Dhanteras?

In Delhi: Friday, 6 November 2026, Wednesday, 27 October 2027 and Sunday, 15 October 2028. Dhanteras is the dark Trayodaśī current at pradoṣa, so the date can differ abroad. Nirṇaya-sindhu p. 294; Dharmasindhu p. 76

What is the Yama deep daan, and when is it done?

A lamp set out for Yama outside the house at nightfall on the dark Trayodaśī, so that untimely death is averted. Nightfall here is pradoṣa, the three muhūrtas after sunset. Nirṇaya-sindhu p. 294; Dharmasindhu p. 76

Why is the date different in the US or UK?

Dhanteras is the Trayodaśī current at pradoṣa at the city. The Trayodaśī begins and ends at the same moment everywhere, but sunset comes at a different hour, so a city to the west can hold it on another evening than Delhi.

How the day is found

Read the methodology

The day: The dark Trayodaśī that comes two days before the Dīpāvalī Amāvasyā, current at pradoṣa; on both days or on neither, the later day (Dharmasindhu p. 20; our reading with Nirṇaya-sindhu p. 294).
Pradoṣa: Three muhūrtas after sunset at the city, while the Trayodaśī runs: the time for the lamp.
No lagna: Neither the Nirṇaya-sindhu nor the Dharmasindhu gives a lagna rule for the day, so none is shown.
Popular practice: Buying metal or utensils and Dhanvantari’s worship are labelled as popular practice and not cited to the texts, which do not give them.

Sunrise and sunset at the centre of the Sun’s disc, with refraction · Lahiri ayanamsa for month names · each city’s own time · Swiss Ephemeris · Method