Dhanteras 2026: Puja muhurat 7.08 pm to 8.16 pm, with materials, method and legend

Diwali begins with Dhanteras, a day of special significance in Hinduism. It is traditional to worship Lord Dhanvantari, Goddess Lakshmi and Kubera on this day. Buying gold, silver, utensils and brooms on Dhanteras is considered auspicious. According to religious belief, a puja performed with due rites brings happiness, prosperity and good health to the home.

According to the Panchang, the puja muhurat for Dhanteras 2026 is from 7.08 pm to 8.16 pm, which gives 1 hour 8 minutes for the worship. The time for Yamadeepdan is given as 6 pm to 7 pm.

It is important to gather the materials for the puja beforehand. These include 21 lotus seeds, five kinds of beads or gems, five betel nuts and Lakshmi-Ganesh coins. Turmeric, kumkum, sandalwood paste and akshata (unbroken rice) are needed, as are flowers, garlands, tulsi leaves and betel leaves. Incense sticks, dhoop, camphor and lamps are required, along with coconut, curd, honey and sweets. Gangajal, ghee and kajal are also needed. Chuda or bangles and other puja items are used as well. The materials can be varied according to family tradition and what is available.

For the puja, the house should first be cleaned in the evening and the preparations made afterwards. A clean spot in the house should be chosen and the deities installed there. As per religious tradition, Kubera, Lord Dhanvantari and Goddess Lakshmi are worshipped.

A ghee lamp should be lit at the puja spot. White sweets should be offered to Kubera and yellow sweets to Lord Dhanvantari. The puja is performed by offering flowers, akshata, sandalwood paste and dhoop. While worshipping Kubera, the mantra "Om Hreem Kuberaya Namah" should be chanted, and Lord Dhanvantari's stotra recited. Finally, Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi are worshipped and sweets are offered as naivedya.

There is also a tradition of lighting a lamp in the name of Yamaraja on this day, known as Yamadeepdan. According to religious belief, performing Yamadeepdan keeps away the fear of untimely death. For this, a four-faced clay lamp should be taken. A swastika is drawn on a wooden stool or a clean spot, and kumkum is applied to the lamp. Akshata and flowers are placed on it. It is traditional to put a little sugar and a one-rupee coin in the lamp. The lamp is then placed near the main entrance of the house. By tradition, the flame of the lamp is kept facing south.

A mythological legend behind the festival is also recounted. Once Lord Vishnu came to earth with Goddess Lakshmi. He asked her to stay in one place, but Lakshmi did not obey. On the way, she picked mustard flowers from a field and ate sugarcane. Vishnu therefore cursed her to live in a farmer's house for 12 years.

During that time, by Lakshmi's grace, grain, wealth and prosperity came to the farmer's house. When Vishnu came to take Lakshmi back after 12 years, the farmer did not want to let her go. Finally, Lakshmi told him to clean his house, light lamps and perform puja on the day of Dhanteras. The tradition of Lakshmi puja on this day is said to have begun from then, according to the religious legend.