Dhan means wealth and teras the thirteenth. Dhanteras opens the five days of Diwali and is the traditional day to buy new metal for the household: a silver coin, a brass or copper utensil, or gold.
In the evening a small diya is lit at the entrance as an offering to Yama, the Yama-deepa, traditionally believed to protect the household through the coming year.
The five days of Diwali
| Day | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Dhanteras | ||
| Naraka Chaturdashi | ||
| Lakshmi Puja (Diwali) | ||
| Govardhan Puja | ||
| Bhai Dooj |
Dhanteras samagri checklist
The Dhanteras purchase
- A small silver coin, a new brass or copper utensil, or gold
Evening
- A small diya for the Yama-deepa at the threshold
- Thirteen diyas, for the thirteenth day of the dark fortnight
- Ghee or oil and cotton wicks
The Dhanteras vidhi, in short
- Through the dayMake the Dhanteras purchase, and begin the household’s Diwali cleaning and preparation.
- EveningLight the Yama-deepa at the household threshold, and the thirteen Dhanteras diyas. Many homes also offer puja to Dhanvantari and Kuber.
Diwali is the season of giving, and the Grantha’s rule for a festival gift is that it should be auspicious, usable within the festival, and given before Dhanteras, so it reaches the home in time to be used across the five days.
Read more in the Chaitanya Grantha
- Vol 8 · Chaitanya Festival Calendar · Ch 6 Ashwin — Navratri Month Ashwin month: Navratri, Dussehra and Dhanteras
- Vol 8 · Chaitanya Festival Calendar · Ch 7 Kartik — Diwali Month The five days of Diwali in sequence
- Vol 6 · Chaitanya Diya & Flame Guide · Ch 9 Diwali — The Festival of Lights Diwali diyas: the count for each of the five days
For retailers: the Dhanteras kit
Dhanteras Silver Blessing Kit
Everything for the Dhanteras puja, assembled in one box for grocery chains, importers and distributors. Private label available.