Dhanteras 2026 in Kurnool: Events, Puja & Where to Celebrate

TL;DR

• 🪔 Dhanteras 2026 falls on Friday, November 6 — the first day of the five-day Diwali season in Kurnool.
• The city sits in Andhra Pradesh's temple-rich southern belt, within close reach of the Alampur Jogulamba Temple, one of the 18 Maha Shakti Peethas.
• Sri Sri Sri Varasiddhi Vinayaka Swamy Temple on B Camp Road and the Hanuman Temple on RS Road are central city destinations for evening Dhanteras puja.
• Kurnool district is home to some of the most significant spiritual sites in South India — including Sri Yaganti Uma Maheswara Temple and Mahanandi — giving Dhanteras here a backdrop of deep Shaiva and Shakta devotion.
• Check temple schedules ahead of time; festival-season timings in Kurnool's mandirs can shift significantly from regular hours.

Dhanteras in Kurnool: Opening a Sacred Season

Dhanteras — Dhanvantari Trayodashi — arrives on the thirteenth day of the dark fortnight in Kartik month. In 2026 it falls on Friday, November 6, two days before Lakshmi Puja on November 8. The word joins dhan (wealth) and teras (thirteen), marking the day when Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Dhanvantari are invoked for prosperity and health. Dhanvantari, the divine physician who emerged from the Samudra Manthan bearing the pot of amrit, is honoured alongside Lakshmi — making Dhanteras a day of dual significance: material blessing and the gift of good health.

Kurnool, located in southern Andhra Pradesh on the Tungabhadra river, experiences Dhanteras as a community event. Families across the city's residential neighbourhoods arrange diyas at entrances, bring new metal objects into the home, and visit local mandirs during the Pradosh window — the auspicious period roughly ninety minutes after sunset. The city's wide belt of well-known pilgrimage destinations lends the festival a special gravity: in Kurnool, a Dhanteras puja often extends into a pilgrim's itinerary.

Temples in Kurnool for Dhanteras Puja

The Hanuman Temple on RS Road is one of the city's best-known mandirs and draws large gatherings on festival evenings. The aarti schedule on Dhanteras is typically extended, and the courtyard fills with marigold vendors, oil-lamp sellers, and families offering coconuts and flowers to Anjaneya for strength and protection in the year ahead.

Sri Sri Sri Varasiddhi Vinayaka Swamy Temple on B Camp Road is dedicated to Lord Ganesha, and on Dhanteras many families begin their evening prayers here before the main Lakshmi puja at home. Seeking Ganesha's blessing first — removing obstacles from the prosperous year ahead — is a well-established local custom.

The anjaneya swami temple on Laksmipuram Road, also dedicated to Hanuman as Anjaneya, is a neighbourhood pillar where the evening Dhanteras aarti draws steady crowds. For families in the Laksmipuram and surrounding areas, this mandir serves as the community gathering point on festival evenings.

Beyond the city itself, the Alampur Jogulamba Temple — roughly 22 kilometres from Kurnool near the confluence of the Tungabhadra and Krishna rivers — is one of the 18 Maha Shakti Peethas. Many Kurnool families make a special pilgrimage in the days around Dhanteras and Diwali to seek Jagadamba's blessings. The Alampur Jogulamba Temple complex also encompasses the Navabrahma group of Shiva temples from the Badami Chalukya period, offering both Shakta and Shaiva darshan in a single visit.

Insider Tip: Kurnool's temple priests at larger mandirs are often fully booked for home pujas on Dhanteras evening — demand peaks sharply the week before the festival. If you want a priest to perform Lakshmi puja at your home, arrange it at least ten days in advance. Families who plan a pilgrimage to Alampur usually go the day before or after Dhanteras to avoid peak crowds on the festival evening itself.

What to Buy and How Families Prepare

Market areas around the main bazar and near B Camp Road see an influx of utensil sellers, silver-coin vendors, and broom sellers in the days before Dhanteras. The custom of bringing metal into the home is observed across Kurnool's households: steel cookware, silver coins, and brass diyas are the most common purchases. Some families buy new jewellery; others bring home a simple new vessel as a symbolic welcome to Lakshmi.

A south-facing diya lit at the front of the house on Dhanteras evening is meant to appease Yamraj and protect the household from untimely loss. By Diwali on November 8, the same entrance becomes a full display of clay diyas, kolam (rangoli), and mango-leaf torans. Sweets prepared at home in the run-up to Dhanteras often include Andhra-style boorelu and gavvalu alongside the North Indian mithai available in shops.

The Festival Chain Around Dhanteras in Kurnool

Dhanteras on November 6 opens a sequence that runs through Naraka Chaturdashi on November 7, Diwali and Lakshmi Puja on November 8, and Bhai Dooj on November 10. This five-day arc caps a longer festival season that included Navratri (from October 11), Durga Ashtami (October 19), Dussehra (October 20), and Karva Chauth (October 29). The city's markets and mandirs remain in sustained activity through this entire stretch.

FAQ

When is Dhanteras 2026 in Kurnool? Dhanteras 2026 falls on Friday, November 6. Diwali and Lakshmi Puja follow on Sunday, November 8.

Which are the most visited temples in Kurnool during Dhanteras? The Hanuman Temple on RS Road and Sri Sri Sri Varasiddhi Vinayaka Swamy Temple on B Camp Road are among the most frequented in the city. Confirm puja timings directly with each temple before you go.

Is Alampur Jogulamba Temple accessible from Kurnool on Dhanteras? Yes. The Alampur Jogulamba Temple is roughly 22 kilometres from Kurnool city. Many families make the pilgrimage around the Dhanteras-Diwali period. Road conditions and temple crowd levels vary, so confirm access and timings before you go.

What is the significance of buying metal on Dhanteras? Bringing metal into the home on Dhanteras is believed to invite Lakshmi's presence and blessings of wealth. The tradition connects to the story of Dhanvantari, who emerged from the ocean bearing a vessel — symbolising abundance arriving at the threshold.

Do I need to book a priest for home Dhanteras puja in Kurnool? Demand for priests on Dhanteras evening is high across Kurnool. Reach out to your local temple priest or community network at least a week ahead of November 6 to arrange a home puja session.

Bottom Line

Dhanteras in Kurnool is both a neighbourhood celebration and a gateway to one of the most temple-dense districts in South India. The Hanuman Temple on RS Road, the anjaneya swami temple on Laksmipuram Road, and the Sri Sri Sri Varasiddhi Vinayaka Swamy Temple in the city, combined with the iconic Alampur Jogulamba Temple for those making a day pilgrimage, give this festival a genuine range of devotional options. For more on festivals and community events in Kurnool, visit desi.net/kurnool.