A thoughtful start to the Diwali season
Dhanteras guide: shopping, puja and preparation
Shopping, puja, food and family time — planned gently, as the Diwali season begins.
Prepare
Cleaning, samagri and your metal-purchase plan.
Explore →What to buy
Common customs and shopping ideas, within your budget.
Explore →Puja & timing
Tithi, muhurat, the puja vidhi and children’s activity.
Explore →Celebrate
Find a jeweller, light the home and share a family meal.
Explore →Dhanteras traditions vary by region and community. Everything here is a guide — follow your family’s own practice, and confirm timings with a trusted local panchang.
Dhanteras 2026: date and local reference
Friday, 6 November 2026 · New Delhi · Asia/Kolkata (IST). Puja reference: 6:02 PM – 7:57 PM. Confirm the window for your own city before scheduling.
Source: Drik Panchang — New Delhi · checked 2026-10-03.
Plan Dhanteras before you shop
Decide which observances your household follows, check what you already own and choose a comfortable spending limit. Purchases are optional; a useful plan also makes room for the puja and a shared meal.
Prepare the puja and timing
Check the date and puja window for your city before arranging errands. Our timing guide labels its New Delhi reference, source and review date; it is not a timetable for every location.
Dhanteras puja and local timing →Make one shopping list
Write down each item’s purpose, what you can reuse and the maximum you want to spend. Check pickup or delivery before depending on a purchase for the evening.
- Puja: check thali, bowls and suitable lamps first.
- Food: choose a small menu and combine ingredients.
- Décor: finish one entrance or prayer-space project.
An illustrative ₹1,000 household budget
For a household reusing its puja utensils: set aside ₹400 for meal ingredients, ₹200 for flowers and supplies, ₹200 for an optional useful purchase and ₹200 as a buffer. These are example spending limits, not market prices; adjust them to local costs and what you already have.
Connect Dhanteras to Diwali
Check both occasions together so you do not buy the same ingredients or decorations twice. Keep separate local timing notes, and reuse the practical checklist where it fits.
Continue your Diwali preparation →Plan a manageable Dhanteras at home
Begin with your family’s observances, then choose a small menu and one decoration project. Check what you already own before making a shopping list. The preparation, puja, recipe and DIY guides connect to your personal plan so you can assign tasks and leave space for time together.
Where should I start?
Confirm your local calendar and household traditions, then decide who will prepare the puja space, food and entrance. Keep shopping optional and choose only the projects that fit the time you have.