Dhanteras 1996
Dhanvantari and Lakshmi worship — the buying day that opens Diwali.
Muhurat & timings
Kashi/IST · astronomically computed- Sankalp (sunrise)06:10
- Pradosh puja muhurat17:13 – 19:37
- Fasting window (tithi)10:18 → 1996-11-09 · 10:48
- Parana (tithi ends)10:481996-11-09
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 1996
- Makar Sankranti — 14 January 1996
- Vasant Panchami — 24 January 1996
- Maha Shivaratri — 17 February 1996
- Holika Dahan — 4 March 1996
- Holi — 6 March 1996
- Chaitra Navratri begins — 20 March 1996
- Ram Navami — 28 March 1996
- Akshaya Tritiya — 20 April 1996
- Jagannath Rath Yatra — 17 July 1996
- Guru Purnima — 30 July 1996
- Nag Panchami — 19 August 1996
- Raksha Bandhan — 28 August 1996
- Krishna Janmashtami — 4 September 1996
- Hartalika Teej — 16 September 1996
- Ganesh Chaturthi — 16 September 1996
- Anant Chaturdashi — 26 September 1996
- Pitru Paksha begins — 28 September 1996
- Sharad Navratri begins — 13 October 1996
- Durga Ashtami — 20 October 1996
- Maha Navami — 21 October 1996
- Dussehra / Vijayadashami — 21 October 1996
- Karwa Chauth — 29 October 1996
- Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) — 10 November 1996
- Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) — 10 November 1996
- Govardhan Puja — 12 November 1996
- Bhai Dooj — 13 November 1996
- Chhath Puja — 16 November 1996
- Kartik Purnima (Dev Deepawali) — 25 November 1996
- Guru Nanak Jayanti — 25 November 1996
- Hindu Festivals 1996 →