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

TL;DR 🪔

• Dhanteras 2026 falls on November 6 in Multan, marking the start of the Diwali festival sequence
• Diwali 2026 follows on November 8, two days later
• Multan has an ancient Hindu and Jain heritage visible in its historic temples
• The festive season runs from Karva Chauth 2026 (October 29) through Chhath Puja 2026 (November 15) 🌙
• This guide covers dates, places of worship, and how Hindu and Jain communities in Multan observe the occasion ✨

Dhanteras in Multan: An Ancient City's Living Tradition

Few cities in South Asia carry the weight of layered history as deeply as Multan. For thousands of years, this city at the confluence of rivers in southern Punjab was a center of pilgrimage, trade, and spiritual culture — drawing communities of Hindus, Jains, Sufis, and Muslims who shaped its identity together. That heritage has not disappeared. Multan's Hindu minority community continues to observe the full spectrum of religious festivals, and Dhanteras 2026 falls on November 6 in a city that has celebrated it for centuries.

Dhanteras opens the five-day Diwali sequence on the thirteenth lunar day of Krishna Paksha in Kartik month. The evening puja honors Goddess Lakshmi and Dhanvantari — the physician of the gods — with lit diyas, floral offerings, and prayers for prosperity and health. In Multan, where the Hindu community is smaller than in many cities further east, observances tend to be more intimately community-centered, often organized through networks around the city's temples.

The 2026 Festival Calendar for Multan's Hindu Community

The festive season in Multan this year follows a full calendar of observances. Here are the key dates:

October 29 brings two observances together: Sankashti Chaturthi (the monthly Ganesh fast) falls on the same day as Karva Chauth 2026. The latter is a day-long fast kept by married women as a prayer for their husbands' health and longevity, traditionally broken only after sighting the moon in the evening.

November 5 is Ekadashi, the eleventh lunar day observed with fasting and prayers to Lord Vishnu — one of several Ekadashi dates spread through the coming months.

November 6 is Dhanteras 2026 itself. Families perform the Lakshmi puja in the evening, light rows of diyas at the threshold and around the home, and observe the tradition of acquiring something in metal as a mark of welcoming prosperity.

November 7 is Pradosh Vrat, the twice-monthly Shiva fast observed during the evening twilight. Devotees visit temples or perform home puja during the pradosh kaal (the 90-minute window around sunset).

November 8 is Diwali 2026 — the main festival of lights. Homes are illuminated, sweets are prepared and distributed, and the community gathers for prayer and celebration.

November 9 is Amavasya, the new moon night, which carries heightened ritual significance in the Diwali season.

November 11 is Bhai Dooj 2026, the day celebrating the sibling bond. Sisters perform a tilak ceremony for their brothers and offer prayers for their long life and well-being.

November 15 is Chhath Puja 2026, a four-day sun-worship festival particularly important for families from the eastern Gangetic plains. The observance involves fasting, ritual bathing, and offering arghya to the setting and rising sun.

The calendar continues through November and into December with Pradosh Vrat on November 22, Purnima on November 24, and further Ekadashi and Pradosh Vrat dates extending into the new year.

Insider Tip: For families preparing for Dhanteras 2026 puja in Multan, organizing supplies early is particularly important. Puja essentials — diyas, agarbatti, fresh flowers, and sweets — are available in the markets of the inner walled city, particularly around the Bohar Gate area, which has historically served the Hindu and Jain communities of the city.

Places of Worship in Multan's Historic Core

Multan's religious geography is one of the most layered in Pakistan. For the city's Hindu community, the festival season connects to a handful of active places of worship:

Prahladpuri Temple (Narsimha Mandir) stands within Multan Fort, near the Shrine of Bahauddin Zakariya. Associated with the legend of Prahlad and Narsimha, this is one of the most historically significant Hindu sites in the city. The temple has a long and complex history of damage and restoration, and remains a point of devotion for local Hindus.

Digambar Jain Temple Multan is located near Chowk Bazar, inside Bohar Gate, in the inner walled city. The Jain community of Multan, though small today, has roots stretching back centuries in this trading city.

Parshvanath Jain Shwetambar Temple Multan sits in the Churi Sarai Bazaar area of Bohar Gate. Like the Digambar temple, it is a marker of the long Jain presence in Multan.

While Dhanteras is primarily a Hindu observance rather than a Jain one, the concentration of these places of worship in the Bohar Gate area means that the festive week sees heightened activity and footfall in the inner walled city — a neighborhood where the living heritage of Multan's religious plurality is most visible.

Observing the Season in Multan's Broader Context

Multan occupies a significant place in the Sufi tradition as well. The Shrine of Shah Rukn-e-Alam, the Shrine of Bahauddin Zakariya, and the Shrine of Shah Shams Sabzwari Tabrez are among the most visited sacred sites in the city and speak to the intertwined spiritual life that Multan has historically nurtured. The festive season in November, when Hindu households light diyas for Dhanteras 2026 and Diwali 2026, and when the Sufi shrines continue their constant stream of devotees, reflects this multiplicity.

For the Hindu community in Multan, the festival calendar also carries the weight of preservation. Observing Karva Chauth 2026, Dhanteras 2026, Diwali 2026, and Chhath Puja 2026 is both a religious act and a form of cultural continuity — a way of holding on to practices that have been maintained in this city across many generations and through many changes.

FAQ

Q: What date is Dhanteras 2026 in Multan? A: Dhanteras 2026 falls on November 6, 2026.

Q: Are there Hindu temples in Multan? A: Yes. The Prahladpuri Temple (Narsimha Mandir) in Multan Fort is the most historically prominent. The Digambar Jain Temple near Chowk Bazar inside Bohar Gate and the Parshvanath Jain Shwetambar Temple in Churi Sarai Bazaar also serve the small but long-established non-Muslim religious community in the city.

Q: When is Diwali 2026 in Multan? A: Diwali 2026 falls on November 8, two days after Dhanteras.

Q: What is Bhai Dooj and when does it fall in 2026? A: Bhai Dooj 2026 falls on November 11. It marks the final day of the Diwali cluster and celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters through a tilak ceremony and exchange of blessings.

Q: Is Chhath Puja observed in Multan? A: Chhath Puja 2026 falls on November 15. While its primary observance is concentrated among communities from Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh, the occasion is recognized on the festival calendar for Hindu communities across the region.

Bottom Line 🌟

For the Hindu and Jain communities of Multan, Dhanteras 2026 on November 6 marks the beginning of the most significant festival stretch of the year — a week that moves from Dhanteras through Diwali 2026, Amavasya, and on to Bhai Dooj 2026. In a city with one of the oldest continuously inhabited sites in South Asia, observing these festivals is an act that ties the present community to a tradition thousands of years deep. The Prahladpuri Temple, the Digambar Jain Temple, and the lanes of the walled city provide the setting; the calendar provides the rhythm.