Dhanteras in Lucknow: Shopping, Rituals and Where to Dine

Dhanteras in Lucknow means shopping, prayers and family time. Here is what the day is, where people shop, and where to dine afterwards.

Dhanteras in Lucknow opens the festive season with shopping, prayers and family time, and it is easy to enjoy once you know what the day involves and how to plan it.

What Dhanteras is

Dhanteras marks the start of the five-day Diwali festival. Families traditionally buy something made of metal, often utensils, as a sign of good fortune, and they worship Lakshmi, associated with prosperity, and Dhanvantari, associated with health. Lamps are lit in the evening. Customs differ from family to family and region to region, so follow your own tradition.

Shopping on Dhanteras

Lucknow has several well-known shopping districts. Hazratganj is the classic city-centre market, Aminabad is a busy traditional bazaar, and Chowk is the old-city market area. We do not recommend particular shops, so pick the ones your family trusts, and ask about authenticity and bills for any significant purchase.

Plan around the crowds

Markets get busy on Dhanteras. Go earlier if you can, keep your plans simple, and allow extra time for parking and walking. Approximate drive times to ORNATE: Hazratganj 16 minutes and Alambagh 10, though crowds can change this.

Rituals at home

Many families clean the home, set out lamps, and perform a small puja in the evening. Allow time for this before you head out for dinner, and check your local calendar for the correct timing, since it varies by year.

Where to dine after Dhanteras shopping

After a day in the markets, a calm dinner is welcome. Amrkh is our multicuisine restaurant with 36 covers, with a selection of dishes, fine dining, live music and private tables, which suits a family or a small group. Saakiya, the bar, has cocktails and mocktails for those who want a longer evening. See the Amrkh page. We have not published a festive menu, so please confirm availability and arrangements with the hotel.

• Book your table early; Amrkh is a small room of 36 covers
• Mention the number of guests and any dietary needs
• Allow for slower roads on festival evenings
• Consider staying over; check-in is 2:00 PM and check-out 12:00 PM

A simple plan for the day works well: handle your shopping in the morning or early afternoon while markets are calmer, return home for rest and the evening puja, then head out for dinner once the lamps are lit. If you would rather skip the drive home afterwards, a night at the hotel keeps the evening unhurried. ORNATE has 54 rooms, and the rooms page shows the five categories. Families visiting Lucknow for the festival can also use the stay to see the city at its most festive, without worrying about late-night travel.

To reserve a table at Amrkh for Dhanteras evening, call reservations on +91 92199 04134 or write to reservations@theornate.in, and we will tell you what is available.