2012
Sunday, 11 November 2012
In 2012 the tithi runs from 1:28 pm on 11 Nov to 10:33 am on 12 Nov; it is running at pradosh, the twilight just after sunset on Sunday, 11 November 2012, so that is the day of Dhanteras.
2013
Friday, 1 November 2013
In 2013 the tithi runs from 10:17 pm on 31 Oct to 9:34 pm on 1 Nov; it is running at pradosh, the twilight just after sunset on Friday, 1 November 2013, so that is the day of Dhanteras.
How the date is fixed
Dhanteras falls on the thirteenth day of the dark half of the lunar month Ashwina (Krishna Trayodashi). The date is the day on which that tithi is running at pradosh, the twilight just after sunset. In the North Indian (purnimanta) calendar the same fortnight is counted in Kartika.
About
Dhanteras falls on the thirteenth tithi of the dark half of Ashwina in amanta reckoning (Kartika Krishna Trayodashi in the north), two days before Diwali, in October or November. The governing period is pradosh, the hour and a half after sunset, so the day whose dusk carries Trayodashi is chosen. The day is also Dhanvantari Jayanti, the birth of the physician of the gods, and the evening of the Yama deepa, a lamp placed outside the door. Buying metal utensils on this day is the familiar custom.
How it is observed
Lakshmi and Dhanvantari worship at pradosh, a lamp for Yama outside the door, and the purchase of utensils or metal.