Dhanteras 2026 in Chennai falls on Friday, November 6, 2026. Puja window (pradosh) is 5:40 PM to 7:16 PM GMT+5:30.
Opens the five days of Diwali. It marks the appearance of Dhanvantari, the divine physician, rising from the ocean of milk bearing the pot of amrita — hence it is also National Ayurveda Day. Lakshmi and Kubera are worshipped in the evening, and a lamp for Yama (Yama-deepa) is placed at the doorway to ward off untimely death.
The year’s biggest day for buying gold, silver and new utensils — bringing new "dhan" (wealth) home is believed to multiply it. Homes are cleaned and lit with the first lamps of the Diwali season.
Purchases and Lakshmi Puja are best done during pradosh (shown here). Even a small symbolic purchase — a coin or a steel utensil — honors the tradition.