Common North Indian household practice · Friday, 6 November 2026
Dhanteras Puja
How to read the Roman letters
ā, ī, ū are long vowels (as in father, machine, rule). ṛ sounds like ri. ś and ṣ are both close to sh. c is ch as in church; ch is the aspirated chh. ṃ is a nasal m; ḥ is a soft echo of the vowel before it. ṭ, ḍ, ṇ are said with the tongue curled back.
Clean and light up the home
Finish cleaning, draw rangoli at the door and keep the lamps ready for the evening.
For many families Dhanteras opens the five days of Diwali, so the home is cleaned and decorated by this evening.
Our family’s way
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Remember Dhanvantari
In the evening, light the ghee lamp before the image, offer roli, rice, flowers and sweets, and say the Dhanvantari mantra with a prayer for the family’s health.
Dhanvantari, who rose from the ocean of milk with the pot of nectar, is honoured as the physician of the gods. Families who worship Lakshmi and Kubera this evening do so now; the full Lakshmi puja is on Diwali night.
Dhanvantari mantra
ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय धन्वन्तरये अमृतकलशहस्ताय
सर्वामयविनाशनाय त्रैलोक्यनाथाय श्रीमहाविष्णवे नमः॥
oṃ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya dhanvantaraye amṛtakalaśahastāya
sarvāmayavināśanāya trailokyanāthāya śrīmahāviṣṇave namaḥ||
Om, salutation to the blessed Vasudeva: to Dhanvantari who holds the pot of nectar, the destroyer of all disease, lord of the three worlds, the great Vishnu.
ॐ, भगवान वासुदेव को नमस्कार — हाथ में अमृत-कलश लिए धन्वन्तरि को, सभी रोगों का नाश करने वाले, तीनों लोकों के स्वामी श्री महाविष्णु को नमस्कार।
Our family’s way
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Light the lamp for Yama
After sunset, light a four-wick lamp and place it outside the main door, facing south, with a prayer for protection from untimely death.
This is Yama-dīpadāna, the lamp offered to Yama. Families say a Sanskrit verse while placing it, but we found that verse only in copies that may not be independent, so it is not printed here; a prayer in your own words is fine. Keep the lamp on a heat-safe plate, and before sleeping put it out safely if no one will be watching it.
Our family’s way
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Bring something new home
If your family keeps the custom, bring home a metal utensil, silver or a new broom, and place it near the puja for a blessing.
The custom marks an auspicious beginning; choose what suits your family.
Our family’s way
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Good health to your family.
If something here differs from your family's practice, follow your family.