Dhanteras 1976
Dhanvantari and Lakshmi worship — the buying day that opens Diwali.
Muhurat & timings
Kashi/IST · astronomically computed- Sankalp (sunrise)05:59
- Pradosh puja muhurat17:25 – 19:49
- Fasting window (tithi)1976-10-20 · 20:52 → 17:49
- Parana (tithi ends)17:49
Festival days follow the classical attribution rules — udaya (sunrise), pradosha (evening), nishita (midnight), madhyahna or aparahna vyapini as each festival prescribes — computed for Kashi/Varanasi (IST). Regional observance can differ by a day in some years.
Read the Dhanteras puja vidhi, vrat rules and kathaDhanteras — Frequently Asked Questions
What should be bought on Dhanteras?
Metal — silver, steel or brass — and traditionally an empty vessel, which is filled before it is carried into the house. Gold and utensils are the common choices; the vessel is the older custom.
Why is a lamp placed facing south on Dhanteras?
It is the Yama deepam, offered after dusk to Yama for the safety of the household. It is set outside the house, facing south, and is not brought back in.
Who is worshipped first on Dhanteras?
Dhanvantari, the physician who rose from the churned ocean with the pot of amrita. Lakshmi and Kubera are invoked after him — health precedes wealth on this day.
Other major festivals in 1976
- Makar Sankranti — 14 January 1976
- Vasant Panchami — 5 February 1976
- Maha Shivaratri — 28 February 1976
- Holika Dahan — 15 March 1976
- Holi — 16 March 1976
- Chaitra Navratri begins — 31 March 1976
- Ram Navami — 8 April 1976
- Akshaya Tritiya — 2 May 1976
- Jagannath Rath Yatra — 29 June 1976
- Guru Purnima — 11 July 1976
- Nag Panchami — 31 July 1976
- Raksha Bandhan — 9 August 1976
- Krishna Janmashtami — 17 August 1976
- Hartalika Teej — 28 August 1976
- Ganesh Chaturthi — 28 August 1976
- Anant Chaturdashi — 7 September 1976
- Pitru Paksha begins — 9 September 1976
- Sharad Navratri begins — 24 September 1976
- Durga Ashtami — 30 September 1976
- Maha Navami — 1 October 1976
- Dussehra / Vijayadashami — 2 October 1976
- Karwa Chauth — 12 October 1976
- Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) — 22 October 1976
- Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) — 22 October 1976
- Govardhan Puja — 24 October 1976
- Bhai Dooj — 24 October 1976
- Chhath Puja — 28 October 1976
- Kartik Purnima (Dev Deepawali) — 6 November 1976
- Guru Nanak Jayanti — 6 November 1976
- Hindu Festivals 1976 →