Thousands of devotees descended on the historic Gajalakshmi Temple in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, on Dhanteras, Friday, 6 November 2026, where the idol of Goddess Lakshmi — believed to be 2,000 years old — received a ceremonial 501-litre milk abhishek and was adorned with currency garlands valued at ₹40 lakh. The grand decorations drew pilgrims from across the country seeking blessings of wealth and prosperity on one of Hinduism's most auspicious occasions.

The Grand Decoration at Gajalakshmi Temple

The centrepiece of this year's celebration was the elaborate shrine décor, which featured garlands made entirely of currency notes worth ₹40 lakh, alongside traditional ornaments and offerings. Temple priest Animesh Sharma said devotees across India mark Dhanteras by worshipping and adorning Goddess Lakshmi in elaborate ways.

As part of the festivities, devotees were distributed prasad consisting of rice grains mixed with turmeric and vermilion — a sacred offering that worshippers are encouraged to preserve at their homes or business establishments as a symbol of divine blessings and continued prosperity.

Kuber Dham in Mandsaur Sees Early Morning Rush

In Mandsaur, also in Madhya Pradesh, the ancient Shri Kuber Dham witnessed similarly large crowds. Devotees began queuing as early as 4 am to seek the blessings of Lord Kuber, the deity of wealth in Hindu tradition. Families performed special pujas before the idol, with long lines stretching outside the temple complex throughout the morning.

Mandsaur Collector Divyank Singh visited the temple, offered prayers, and extended greetings to worshippers on the occasion of Dhanteras, underscoring the civic significance of the festival.

Markets Buzz Across the Country

The festive momentum extended well beyond temples. Dhanteras is traditionally regarded as among the most auspicious days in the Hindu calendar for purchasing gold, silver, utensils, and household items — a practice rooted in the belief that new acquisitions on this day invite Lakshmi's blessings into the home.

In Jalandhar, Punjab, the busy Attari Bazaar was flooded with shoppers hunting for utensils and other goods ahead of Diwali celebrations. Traders reported brisk footfall throughout the day, consistent with the nationwide surge in consumer spending that characterises the Dhanteras-Diwali window each year.

Significance of Dhanteras

Dhanteras, observed on the thirteenth lunar day of the dark fortnight of the month of Kartik, marks the beginning of the five-day Diwali festival. It is dedicated to both Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Kuber as deities of wealth, and to Dhanvantari, the physician of the gods — giving the occasion its dual character of material and spiritual well-being. This year's celebrations reflect a broad resumption of large-scale public gatherings at pilgrimage sites, with temple administrations across Madhya Pradesh and other states organising elaborate rituals to accommodate the surge in footfall.