Send Dhanteras offers on WhatsApp as approved Marketing templates: a teaser 3-5 days before Dhanteras (Friday, 6 November 2026), the main offer on the morning of the day, and one short reminder in the afternoon. Order, payment and delivery updates go out as Utility templates, and every promotional message needs the customer's prior opt-in.
This guide gives you 20 ready-to-copy Dhanteras templates for jewellers, electronics stores, two-wheeler and car showrooms, utensil shops, D2C brands, real estate developers and anyone who simply wants to send wishes. You also get a send schedule, Meta's approval rules, real per-message costs and the frequency limits that quietly stop festive broadcasts. It is one chapter of our Diwali 2026 WhatsApp marketing playbook, so use the two together.
Dhanteras 2026 date and the best time to send
Dhanteras 2026 falls on Friday, 6 November 2026, according to Drik Panchang. Lakshmi Puja, the main Diwali night, follows on Sunday, 8 November 2026. Chhoti Diwali sits in between on Saturday, 7 November.
Drik Panchang lists the Trayodashi tithi from 10:30 AM on 6 November to 10:47 AM on 7 November for New Delhi. It gives the Dhanteras puja muhurat in New Delhi as 6:02 PM to 7:57 PM. Timings shift by city, so check your local panchang before you fix store hours or offer deadlines.
Two practical points follow. First, many families decide their Dhanteras purchase days in advance, so your teaser has to land before the shortlist is made. Second, because the tithi runs into the morning of 7 November, some customers will still shop that morning. Keep your offer valid until at least noon on 7 November.
| Wave | Date (2026) | Send window | Goal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teaser | Sun 1 Nov to Tue 3 Nov | 11 AM to 1 PM, or 7 PM to 9 PM | Preview the offer and collect "Notify me" taps |
| Early access | Wed 4 Nov or Thu 5 Nov | 7 PM to 9 PM | Pre-bookings and reservations, only for people who tapped |
| Day-of offer | Fri 6 Nov | 8 AM to 10 AM | Main offer, store timings and location |
| Afternoon reminder | Fri 6 Nov | 3 PM to 5 PM | Short nudge before puja hours, only to engaged non-buyers |
| Purchase follow-up | After each sale | Immediately | Order, payment and delivery confirmation (Utility) |
Here is a useful detail. When a customer taps a quick-reply button, they send you a message, and that opens a 24-hour customer service window. Free-form replies inside that window are free from Meta. So the early-access message to people who tapped "Notify me" can often be a normal chat reply, not another paid template.
Are Dhanteras messages Marketing or Utility templates?
Meta sorts every WhatsApp template into one of three categories: Marketing, Utility or Authentication. The category decides both the price and the rules.
- Marketing: any Dhanteras offer, discount, coupon code, new-arrival alert, cart reminder with a discount or store-visit invitation.
- Greetings: a pure "Shubh Dhanteras" wish with no offer is usually categorised as Marketing too. Meta treats greetings and brand-awareness messages as promotional.
- Utility: messages about a transaction the customer already started. Examples are order confirmations, payment receipts, delivery updates, booking-token receipts and instalment reminders.
Adding an offer line to a Utility template can get it reclassified as Marketing. Keep the two types separate. If you are unsure where a message belongs, our guide to marketing vs utility WhatsApp message categories walks through real examples.
20 ready-to-copy Dhanteras templates by industry
Every template below follows Meta's formatting rules. Each one opens with text, not a variable. Variables are numbered {{1}}, {{2}} in order and never sit side by side. Every Marketing template ends with an opt-out line, and you can also add Meta's "Stop promotions" quick-reply button. Edit the wording to match your brand, then submit each one with realistic sample values.
Jewellers: gold, silver coins and jewellery
Template 1, teaser (Marketing):
Shubh Dhanteras is almost here, {{1}}.
Our Dhanteras collection is now live at {{2}}: gold coins, silver coins and light-weight jewellery.
Tap below to get the offer details first.
Reply STOP to opt out.
Buttons: quick reply "Notify me", quick reply "View collection".
Template 2, day-of offer (Marketing):
Shubh Dhanteras, {{1}}!
Today only at {{2}}: flat {{3}} off on making charges for gold jewellery. Gold and silver coins are in stock in all popular weights.
Our store is open from 10 AM to 9 PM today.
Reply STOP to opt out.
Buttons: call "Call store", URL "Get directions".
Template 3, gold savings scheme members (Marketing):
Namaste {{1}}, this Dhanteras you can redeem your gold savings scheme at {{2}}.
Please visit with your scheme card any time until 7 November.
Reply STOP to opt out.
Buttons: quick reply "Book a visit", call "Call store". Jewellers who want a deeper setup can read our comparison of the best WhatsApp Business API for jewellers in India.
Electronics and home appliances
Template 4, exchange teaser (Marketing):
Planning a new TV, fridge or washing machine this Dhanteras, {{1}}?
Our Dhanteras exchange offer at {{2}} starts on 6 November. Get your old appliance's exchange value checked in advance.
Reply STOP to opt out.
Buttons: quick reply "Check exchange value".
Template 5, day-of offer (Marketing):
Shubh Dhanteras, {{1}}! Today at {{2}}: up to {{3}} off on selected appliances, with EMI options on eligible cards.
Offer valid while stock lasts. Terms apply.
Reply STOP to opt out.
Buttons: URL "See offers", call "Call store".
Template 6, order confirmation (Utility):
Hi {{1}}, thank you for shopping at {{2}}. Your order {{3}} is confirmed. Delivery and installation are scheduled for {{4}}. Reply here if you need to change the slot.
Buttons: quick reply "Change slot".
Automobiles and two-wheelers
Template 7, pre-booking (Marketing):
Bring home your new two-wheeler on Dhanteras, {{1}}.
Book with a token amount at {{2}} by 4 November to reserve a Dhanteras delivery, subject to stock.
Reply STOP to opt out.
Buttons: quick reply "Book test ride", call "Call showroom".
Template 8, day-of (Marketing):
Shubh Dhanteras, {{1}}! Our showroom at {{2}} is open from 9 AM today for Dhanteras deliveries and walk-in bookings.
Ask our team about today's offer on {{3}}.
Reply STOP to opt out.
Buttons: URL "Get directions".
Template 9, delivery ready (Utility):
Hi {{1}}, your vehicle {{2}} is ready for delivery on {{3}}. Please bring your ID proof and booking receipt to the showroom. Reply here to change the time.
Buttons: quick reply "Confirm time", quick reply "Change time".
Home, kitchen and utensils
Template 10, teaser (Marketing):
Is your Dhanteras shopping list ready, {{1}}?
Steel, brass and copper utensils, pressure cookers and dinner sets are now on display at {{2}}.
Reply YES to get our Dhanteras price list on WhatsApp.
Reply STOP to opt out.
Buttons: quick reply "YES, send price list". A tap here opens the 24-hour window, so the price list itself can go as a free-form reply.
Template 11, day-of offer (Marketing):
Shubh Dhanteras, {{1}}! Today at {{2}}: {{3}} off on kitchen appliances and a complimentary gift pack on bills above ₹2,000.
Reply STOP to opt out.
Buttons: URL "Get directions".
Template 12, afternoon reminder (Marketing):
A gentle reminder, {{1}}: our Dhanteras offer at {{2}} closes at 9 PM tonight. Pick up your new bartan before the evening puja.
Reply STOP to opt out.
Buttons: call "Call store".
D2C and e-commerce brands
Template 13, teaser with code (Marketing):
Something special is coming this Dhanteras, {{1}}.
From 6 November, use code {{2}} to get {{3}} off our festive range.
Reply STOP to opt out.
Buttons: URL "Preview the range".
Template 14, cart reminder with offer (Marketing):
You left something in your cart, {{1}}. Complete your order before midnight on Dhanteras and get {{2}} off with code DHANTERAS26.
Reply STOP to opt out.
Buttons: URL "Complete my order".
Template 15, shipping update (Utility):
Hi {{1}}, your order {{2}} has been shipped and is expected by {{3}}. You can track it with the button below.
Buttons: URL "Track order".
Real estate and booking tokens
Template 16, site visit (Marketing):
Shubh Dhanteras, {{1}}. Dhanteras is considered an auspicious day to book a new home.
Book a site visit at {{2}} this week and ask about our Dhanteras booking offer.
Reply STOP to opt out.
Buttons: quick reply "Book site visit", call "Call sales".
Template 17, token receipt (Utility, with a document header for the receipt):
Hi {{1}}, we have received your booking amount of ₹{{2}} for unit {{3}} at {{4}}. Your receipt is attached. Our team will call you to plan the next step.
Buttons: quick reply "Talk to sales".
General Dhanteras wishes
Template 18, English wish (usually Marketing):
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Shubh Dhanteras, {{1}}!
May this Dhanteras bring good health, wealth and happiness to your family. Thank you for being a valued customer of {{2}}.
Reply STOP to opt out.
Template 19, Hinglish wish (usually Marketing):
Aapko aur aapke parivaar ko Dhanteras ki hardik shubhkamnayein, {{1}} ji.
Maa Lakshmi aur Bhagwan Dhanvantari aapko sukh, samriddhi aur achha swasthya dein.
Team {{2}}
Reply STOP to opt out.
Template 20, thank-you wish (usually Marketing):
Wishing you a bright and prosperous Dhanteras, {{1}}.
From all of us at {{2}}, thank you for your trust this year. We look forward to celebrating Diwali with you.
Reply STOP to opt out.
Need wishes for the main festival night as well? See our Diwali wishes message templates for customers and send them as a separate wave on 8 November.
Want these templates live before the rush? RichAutomate lets you submit templates for approval, upload contact lists and run Dhanteras broadcast campaigns from one dashboard. Setup costs ₹0, and every account starts with a 14-day free trial and 100 credits. Start a free 14-day trial and have your templates in review today.
How to get Dhanteras templates approved fast
Submit your Dhanteras templates 7-10 days early, which means between 27 and 30 October 2026. Meta usually reviews templates within minutes, but it can take up to 24 hours. A rejected template can be edited and resubmitted, and early submission leaves time for that.
| Do | Don't |
|---|---|
| Write in normal sentence case | Use ALL CAPS such as "MEGA DHANTERAS SALE" |
| State the exact offer, for example "flat 20% off making charges" | Use misleading claims such as "100% free gold" or "guaranteed lowest price" |
| Add a clear opt-out such as "Reply STOP to opt out" | Skip the opt-out on promotional messages |
| Place variables inside sentences | Start or end the body with a variable, or put two variables side by side |
| Give realistic sample values: a first name, your store name, "20%" | Leave samples blank or type "test" |
| Choose Marketing for offers and greetings | Label a promotion as Utility to pay less |
| Keep the text longer than the variables | Build a template that is mostly placeholders |
| Prepare one backup version of each key template | Submit everything on 5 November and hope |
What a Dhanteras WhatsApp broadcast costs
RichAutomate has two billing modes. On SaaS Pay you pay one all-in rate: ₹1.50 per Marketing message and ₹0.50 per Utility message. On Client Pay, Meta bills your card directly for each template message, and RichAutomate adds ₹0.10 per message.
| Messages sent | SaaS Pay (all-in) | Client Pay (RichAutomate fee) |
|---|---|---|
| 5,000 Marketing | ₹7,500 | ₹500, plus Meta's charge billed to your card |
| 20,000 Marketing | ₹30,000 | ₹2,000, plus Meta's charge billed to your card |
| 5,000 Utility | ₹2,500 | ₹500, plus Meta's charge billed to your card |
| 20,000 Utility | ₹10,000 | ₹2,000, plus Meta's charge billed to your card |
Example: a store that sends a teaser and a day-of offer to 5,000 opted-in customers sends 10,000 Marketing messages. On SaaS Pay that is ₹15,000. Free-form replies within the 24-hour customer service window are free from Meta, so every customer who taps a button and chats with you costs less from that point on.
Setup is ₹0. Plans start at ₹0 per month on pay-as-you-go, and the paid plans are Starter at ₹499 per month, Pro at ₹899 per month and White-label at ₹1,199 per month. A GST number is required to take a WhatsApp Business Account live, so arrange it before festive week. To model your own list size, use the WhatsApp Business API cost calculator.
Segment your list and cap the frequency
A smaller, well-chosen list usually beats a full-database blast. Build these segments before 1 November:
- Last year's festive buyers: they already trust you with a Dhanteras purchase. Send them the teaser first.
- Gold-scheme or loyalty members: give them early access or a members-only line.
- Cart abandoners and recent browsers: a single cart reminder with a clear offer, sent once.
- Recent enquiries: people who messaged you in the past few weeks. If they write again, reply inside the free 24-hour window.
Do not send more than 2-3 Marketing messages to the same person across the festive week, from Dhanteras to Bhai Dooj. If you also plan a Diwali wish, most customers should get only the teaser and the day-of offer for Dhanteras. Save the afternoon reminder for people who tapped a button but did not buy.
Meta also limits how many Marketing templates one person receives from all businesses combined. When that limit is reached, the message fails with error code 131049, which Meta describes as a limit to maintain healthy ecosystem engagement. Do not retry these in a tight loop. Space out retries, and accept that some messages will not be delivered during peak festive days. No provider can guarantee delivery of every Marketing message.
Consent and compliance basics
Send Dhanteras offers only to customers who opted in to receive WhatsApp messages from your business. WhatsApp's Business Messaging Policy requires that opt-in, and a list bought from a third party does not meet it.
India's Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (DPDP Act) adds its own basics. Consent should be free, specific, informed, unconditional and unambiguous, given through a clear affirmative action. Customers should be able to withdraw consent as easily as they gave it. In practice, record when and how each person opted in, honour every STOP reply at once and remove those numbers from future campaigns. This is general information, not legal advice. Speak to a lawyer for your specific case.
Your Dhanteras WhatsApp checklist
- Confirm the opt-in status of every contact by 25 October.
- Write teaser, day-of, reminder and Utility templates, and submit them between 27 and 30 October.
- Build segments: past buyers, scheme members, cart abandoners and recent enquiries.
- Send the teaser between 1 and 3 November.
- Answer every tap and reply inside the free 24-hour window.
- Send the day-of offer between 8 AM and 10 AM on 6 November, and a reminder only to engaged non-buyers.
- Send Utility confirmations after every purchase, and keep your offer open until noon on 7 November.
Start your Dhanteras campaign
Dhanteras rewards businesses that show up early, speak plainly and respect the customer's inbox. Pick the templates that fit your trade, get them approved by the end of October and send no more than you would want to receive yourself. When you are ready to set it all up on the WhatsApp Business API with ₹0 setup, Start a free 14-day trial on RichAutomate and get 100 credits to test your first Dhanteras broadcast.
Frequently asked questions
When should I send Dhanteras WhatsApp offers in 2026?
Dhanteras 2026 falls on Friday, 6 November, per Drik Panchang. Send a teaser between 1 and 3 November, the main offer between 8 AM and 10 AM on 6 November, and an afternoon reminder only to customers who engaged but did not buy. The Trayodashi tithi runs into the morning of 7 November, so keep your offer open until about noon that day.
Are Dhanteras greetings marketing or utility templates?
Dhanteras offers, discounts and coupon codes are Marketing templates. A pure Shubh Dhanteras greeting with no offer is usually categorised as Marketing too, because Meta treats greetings as promotional. Utility templates are only for a transaction the customer started, such as an order confirmation, payment receipt or delivery update. Adding an offer line to a Utility template can get it reclassified as Marketing.
How much does a Dhanteras WhatsApp broadcast cost in India?
On RichAutomate SaaS Pay, Marketing messages cost ₹1.50 each and Utility messages ₹0.50 each, so 5,000 Marketing messages cost ₹7,500. On Client Pay, Meta bills your card per template message and RichAutomate adds ₹0.10 per message. Setup is ₹0, and free-form replies inside the 24-hour customer service window are free from Meta.
How do I get Dhanteras templates approved fast?
Submit templates 7-10 days early, between 27 and 30 October 2026. Meta usually approves templates within minutes, but review can take up to 24 hours. Use sentence case, state the exact offer, add a clear opt-out such as Reply STOP, keep variables away from the start and end of the body, and give realistic sample values for every variable.
Can I send Dhanteras offers to customers who have not opted in?
No. WhatsApp's Business Messaging Policy requires customers to opt in before a business sends them messages, and bought contact lists do not count. India's DPDP Act, 2023 also expects clear, informed consent that is easy to withdraw. Send offers only to opted-in customers, record how each person opted in and honour every STOP reply immediately.
Get your Dhanteras templates approved this week. Submit them 7-10 days early, segment your buyers and schedule the send in minutes. Start a free 14-day trial with 100 credits.