Dhanteras 2003
Dhanvantari and Lakshmi worship — the buying day that opens Diwali.
Muhurat & timings
Kashi/IST · astronomically computed- Sankalp (sunrise)06:00
- Pradosh puja muhurat17:24 – 19:48
- Fasting window (tithi)03:26 → 2003-10-24 · 00:52
- Parana (tithi ends)00:522003-10-24
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 2003
- Makar Sankranti — 14 January 2003
- Vasant Panchami — 6 February 2003
- Maha Shivaratri — 1 March 2003
- Holika Dahan — 17 March 2003
- Holi — 19 March 2003
- Chaitra Navratri begins — 2 April 2003
- Ram Navami — 11 April 2003
- Akshaya Tritiya — 4 May 2003
- Jagannath Rath Yatra — 1 July 2003
- Guru Purnima — 13 July 2003
- Nag Panchami — 3 August 2003
- Raksha Bandhan — 12 August 2003
- Krishna Janmashtami — 19 August 2003
- Hartalika Teej — 30 August 2003
- Ganesh Chaturthi — 31 August 2003
- Anant Chaturdashi — 9 September 2003
- Pitru Paksha begins — 11 September 2003
- Sharad Navratri begins — 27 September 2003
- Durga Ashtami — 3 October 2003
- Maha Navami — 4 October 2003
- Dussehra / Vijayadashami — 4 October 2003
- Karwa Chauth — 14 October 2003
- Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) — 24 October 2003
- Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) — 25 October 2003
- Govardhan Puja — 26 October 2003
- Bhai Dooj — 27 October 2003
- Chhath Puja — 30 October 2003
- Kartik Purnima (Dev Deepawali) — 8 November 2003
- Guru Nanak Jayanti — 8 November 2003
- Hindu Festivals 2003 →