Quick answer: Dhanteras 2026 falls on Friday, 6 November. The gold-buying window covers the whole Trayodashi tithi, from 10:30 AM on 6 November to 10:47 AM on 7 November, so you don't have to squeeze into the evening puja muhurat (6:02 PM to 7:57 PM in Delhi). Buy BIS-hallmarked gold with a 6-character HUID, compare making charges at two or three jewellers, and take an itemised GST bill. Choose a 24K coin if you want the most gold for your money, and 22K or 18K jewellery if you want to wear it.
For many Indian families, Dhanteras is the most important gold-buying day of the year. It marks the start of Diwali and is linked with Goddess Lakshmi, Lord Kubera and Lord Dhanvantari, so bringing gold or silver home is seen as inviting prosperity. The tradition is about the act of buying, not the amount: a 1 gram coin counts as much as a necklace.
This guide covers when to buy, what to buy, how the bill is worked out, and the checks that protect your money. Check today's gold rate in India before you head out.
When Is Dhanteras 2026? Date and Gold-Buying Muhurat
Dhanteras (Dhantrayodashi) is on Friday, 6 November 2026, two days before Diwali Lakshmi Puja on Sunday, 8 November. Here are the key timings for New Delhi:
Dhanteras 2026 timing | New Delhi time |
|---|---|
Gold-buying window (full Trayodashi) | 10:30 AM, 6 Nov to 10:47 AM, 7 Nov |
Dhanteras puja muhurat | 6:02 PM to 7:57 PM, 6 Nov |
Pradosh Kaal | 5:33 PM to 8:09 PM, 6 Nov |
Vrishabha Kaal | 6:02 PM to 7:57 PM, 6 Nov |
Rahu Kaal (many families avoid starting a purchase) | About 10:43 AM to 12:05 PM, 6 Nov |
The Trayodashi window starts and ends at the same moment everywhere in India. Only the evening puja muhurat shifts, because it depends on local sunset.
Dhanteras puja muhurat by city (6 November 2026, local time)
City | Puja muhurat |
|---|---|
5:28 PM to 7:26 PM | |
6:02 PM to 7:57 PM | |
6:01 PM to 7:57 PM | |
6:03 PM to 7:59 PM | |
6:11 PM to 8:07 PM | |
6:14 PM to 8:10 PM | |
6:15 PM to 8:13 PM | |
6:25 PM to 8:20 PM | |
6:30 PM to 8:28 PM | |
6:32 PM to 8:31 PM | |
6:35 PM to 8:35 PM |
Timings are from Drik Panchang. Tap your city to see its gold rate today, and follow your family panchang if it differs by a few minutes.
What Is the Best Time to Buy Gold on Dhanteras?
Any time within the Trayodashi window counts as buying on Dhanteras. The evening muhurat is the time for the Lakshmi-Kuber puja, not the only time to shop. Yet most buyers crowd into the shops at that hour, which leaves little time to check purity, weight and the bill.
To buy calmly and still stay within the auspicious period:
6 November, afternoon: Drik Panchang lists a Shubh choghadiya from 12:05 PM to 1:27 PM and a Char choghadiya from 4:11 PM to 5:33 PM (Delhi). Buying before the puja also lets you place the new gold in that evening's puja.
6 November, late evening: a Labh choghadiya runs from 8:49 PM to 10:27 PM, after the puja rush, if your jeweller stays open.
7 November, morning: the tithi continues until 10:47 AM, with a Shubh choghadiya from 7:59 AM to 9:21 AM. Showrooms are usually quieter, but check their opening time first.
Want to avoid the crowds altogether? Pushya Nakshatra, considered the birth star of Goddess Lakshmi, falls on Sunday, 1 November 2026, making it Ravi Pushya Yoga (6:33 AM on 1 November to 4:30 AM on 2 November, Delhi). Many families buy their Diwali gold on Pushya instead of Dhanteras. Drik Panchang notes that more gold coins are sold on Pushya day than on Dhanteras.
Or book ahead: choose your piece in the week before, pay an advance, and collect it on Dhanteras. Ask in writing which day's rate applies and what happens if the rate falls before delivery.
Gold Coin, Jewellery, Bar or Digital Gold: What Should You Buy?
Buy a coin for value and the puja, jewellery to wear, and a gold ETF if you want gold without storing it. Each costs a different amount on top of the gold itself:
Option | Purity | Cost on top of the gold value | Getting your money back | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Gold coin | 24K (999 or 995); some 22K | A small minting and packaging premium + 3% GST | Easy to sell to jewellers; banks sell coins but don't buy them back | Lakshmi puja, gifting, saving |
Gold jewellery | Usually 22K (916); 18K (750) for stone-set and lightweight pieces | Making charges, roughly 6% to 25% or more + 3% GST | Making charges and GST are not returned; you are paid for the gold content | Wearing, weddings, heirlooms |
Gold bar | 24K (999 or 995) | Small premium + 3% GST | Like coins, in bigger sizes | Larger amounts of saving |
Gold ETF | Backed by physical gold of 99.5% purity or more | Fund expense ratio and brokerage; no making charges or GST | Sell on the stock exchange; needs a demat account | Small, regular buying with no storage worries |
Digital gold (apps) | 24K, held in a vault by the provider | 3% GST + the platform's buy-sell spread | Depends on the platform; not regulated by SEBI | Use with care (see below) |
Which karat for jewellery? 22K is the standard for traditional pieces. 18K is harder, so it holds stones better and suits daily wear. 24K gold is too soft for most jewellery, so treat any "24K jewellery" claim with caution: read how a "24KT" ring tested at only 96% purity.
A note on digital gold: on 8 November 2025, SEBI warned investors that digital gold products sit outside its regulation and carry counterparty risk. It pointed to gold ETFs and Electronic Gold Receipts as regulated alternatives. Sovereign Gold Bonds have had no new issue since February 2024, though older bonds still trade on the stock exchange.
Which Gold Jewellery Should You Buy on Dhanteras?
Choose a piece you will wear often. Think in cost per wear: a chain or pair of studs worn every week gives far more value than a heavy set that comes out once a year. Many families also add one piece each Dhanteras, such as a bangle a year, and build a full set over time.
Piece | Usual karat | Why it suits Dhanteras | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
Gold chain | 22K | Worn daily; plain machine-made chains carry lower making charges | Hollow chains look heavier than they weigh, so check the net weight and the clasp |
Stud or drop earrings | 22K or 18K | Fits the smallest budgets and suits any outfit | Stone weight charged at the gold rate |
Ring | 22K or 18K | Small, personal and easy to gift | Get the size right first; resizing later adds cost |
Bangle | 22K | Traditional, and easy to add one each year to build a set | Intricate, handcrafted designs carry higher making charges |
Pendant or mangalsutra | 22K or 18K | Pairs with a chain you already own | Ask whether the chain is included in the price |
Diamond or polki piece | 18K for diamond-set; polki and kundan sit outside hallmarking | An heirloom purchase for the year | Much of the price is stones, so ask for the stone-weight breakup and a diamond certificate |
How Much Gold Should You Buy, and What Will It Cost?
There is no required amount. Set a budget in rupees first, then see how many grams it buys. A festive purchase should never stretch your finances.
Every jewellery bill follows the same formula:
Final price = (gold rate per gram × net gold weight) + making charges + 3% GST on the total
GST is charged on the full price, making charges included. In South India, making charges often appear on the bill as "wastage" or "VA" (value addition).
Worked example: a 5 gram 22K chain at ₹12,600 per gram (GoldInforma's 22K rate on 20 October 2026, rounded)
Making charge | Gold value | Making charges | GST (3%) | Final price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
8% | ₹63,000 | ₹5,040 | ₹2,041 | ₹70,081 |
12% | ₹63,000 | ₹7,560 | ₹2,117 | ₹72,677 |
18% | ₹63,000 | ₹11,340 | ₹2,230 | ₹76,570 |
The gold is identical in all three rows, yet the bills differ by ₹6,489. Comparing making charges saves you more than chasing the perfect hour. Try your own numbers in the GoldInforma gold rate calculator, and see how jewellers calculate gold price.
What your budget buys (22K jewellery at 12% making charges; 24K coins at about ₹13,737 per gram; both including 3% GST)
Budget | 22K jewellery | 24K coin (before the coin premium) | Typical Dhanteras buy |
|---|---|---|---|
₹10,000 | 0.69 g | 0.71 g | 0.5 g coin, nose pin or small studs |
₹25,000 | 1.72 g | 1.77 g | 1 g coin or a small pendant |
₹50,000 | 3.44 g | 3.53 g | 2 g coin, a ring or light earrings |
₹1,00,000 | 6.88 g | 7.07 g | 5 g coin or a light chain |
₹2,00,000 | 13.76 g | 14.14 g | 10 g coin or a chain with pendant (PAN needed above ₹2 lakh) |
Rates move every day, so check today's gold rate before you shop.
Is Gold Jewellery a Good Investment on Dhanteras?
Jewellery is a good way to own gold you will wear, but a costly way to invest. When you sell, you are paid for the gold content only. The making charges and GST you paid are gone, so the gold rate has to rise before the piece is worth what you paid.
Take the 5 gram chain above with 12% making charges. You paid ₹72,677 for gold then worth ₹63,000, so the 22K rate must climb from ₹12,600 to about ₹14,535 per gram (15.4%) just to break even.
What you buy | Paid above the gold value | Gold must rise about this much to break even |
|---|---|---|
24K coin | 3% GST + a small coin premium | 3% plus the premium |
22K jewellery, 8% making charges | 11.2% | 11% |
22K jewellery, 12% making charges | 15.4% | 15% |
22K jewellery, 20% making charges | 23.6% | 24% |
Gold ETF | No making charges or GST; a small yearly expense ratio and brokerage | Just those costs |
These figures assume you sell at the day's gold rate with no deduction; a jeweller's buying rate is often a little lower. If investment is your main goal, a coin, bar or gold ETF loses far less to costs. If you buy jewellery, plain and machine-made designs carry lower making charges and lose less when you sell.
How to Buy Gold on Dhanteras: 8 Steps
Decide the purpose and budget. Wearing it means 22K or 18K jewellery. For the puja or saving, a 24K coin. For saving without storage, a gold ETF. Fix the rupee amount before you enter a shop.
Track the rate for a week or two. Follow the gold rate in your city so you know a fair price. On the day, ask which rate the jeweller is using and whether it is for 22K or 24K.
Compare two or three jewellers in advance. Ask for quotes on the same weight and purity, with the making charge given both as a percentage and in rupees. Weekdays before Dhanteras are quieter and give you time to ask questions.
Check the hallmark on every piece. Look for the BIS logo, the purity grade and the 6-character HUID, then verify the HUID on the BIS CARE app before you pay (steps below).
Check the weights. The tag and bill should show gross weight, stone weight and net gold weight. You should pay the gold rate only on the net gold weight, never on stones, enamel or lac.
Ask about exchange and buyback. Find out the deduction if you exchange the piece later and if you sell it back for cash. These are often different.
Pay the right way. Give your PAN for a purchase above ₹2 lakh, whether you pay by cash, card or UPI. A jeweller cannot accept ₹2 lakh or more in cash for one purchase.
Take an itemised GST invoice and keep it. It should list the HUID, purity, net weight, gold rate, making charges and GST. Store it with the piece; you will need it to exchange or sell later.
How to Check the BIS Hallmark and HUID
Since 1 April 2023, hallmarked gold jewellery must carry a 6-character HUID to be sold. Hallmarking is mandatory in close to 400 notified districts and covers 14K, 18K, 20K, 22K, 23K and 24K gold. Every hallmarked piece shows three marks:
Mark | What it tells you | What to look for |
|---|---|---|
BIS logo | Certified under the Bureau of Indian Standards scheme | The triangular BIS mark |
Purity grade | Karat and fineness (parts of gold per 1,000) | 22K916, 18K750 or 14K585 |
HUID | A unique code for that one piece | 6 letters and numbers, such as AB12C3 (illustrative) |
Verify the HUID before you pay:
Install the free BIS CARE app.
Open Verify HUID and type the 6-character code from the piece or tag.
Check that the result matches what you are buying: jeweller, purity, type of article and hallmarking centre.
If the code doesn't show up or doesn't match, don't buy the piece.
Good to know:
Pieces under 2 grams may not be hallmarked, and kundan and polki jewellery is outside the scheme. In those cases, the invoice should describe the item and state that it is not hallmarked.
If you doubt a piece's purity, any BIS-recognised Assaying and Hallmarking centre will test it: ₹200 for up to four pieces, or ₹45 per piece for five or more.
Exchanging Old Gold on Dhanteras
Many families trade in old or broken jewellery for a new piece on Dhanteras. The jeweller pays for the pure gold content: net weight × tested purity × that day's buying rate, minus any deduction.
Watch the purity test. Most showrooms use an XRF karat meter. Ask to see the reading and get it written on the exchange slip.
Ask about the deduction. Exchange (old for new) and cash buyback usually carry different deductions, and they vary by jeweller. Get both numbers before you agree.
Expect stones to be removed. Gemstones, kundan and lac are usually not valued as gold, so the net weight may be lower than you expect.
Old, unhallmarked gold can still be exchanged. The HUID rule governs what jewellers sell, not what you already own. Old pieces hallmarked under earlier schemes also remain valid.
Bring the original bill if you have it. It isn't always required, but it supports the purity claim and proves ownership.
Check the final invoice. It should show the exchange value as a separate line, so you can see what you actually paid.
PAN, Cash, GST and Tax Rules for Buying Gold
Rule | What it means for you |
|---|---|
GST | 3% on the full price of jewellery, coins and bars, making charges included |
PAN | Required for a purchase above ₹2 lakh, whatever the payment mode |
Cash limit | A jeweller cannot accept ₹2 lakh or more in cash for one purchase or occasion; pay by UPI, card or bank transfer |
Selling within 24 months | Any gain is taxed at your income-tax slab rate |
Selling after 24 months | Long-term gain is taxed at 12.5%, without indexation |
Gold ETFs | Long-term after 12 months, taxed at 12.5% |
These rules apply as of October 2026. This is general information, not tax advice, so check with a chartered accountant for large purchases or sales.
Dhanteras Gold-Buying Mistakes to Avoid
Rushing in during the puja hour. Crowded counters lead to skipped checks. Buy earlier in the day, on 7 November morning, or on Pushya Nakshatra.
Trusting "0% making charges" blindly. Some offers recover the cost through a higher gold rate or added wastage. Compare the final bill, not the headline.
Buying "24K jewellery". Genuine 24K is too soft for most designs, and some pieces sold as 24K test far lower.
Paying the gold rate for stones. Check that stone, enamel and lac weight is deducted from the gold weight.
Skipping the HUID check. It takes a minute on the BIS CARE app and is your best proof of purity.
Buying unregulated digital gold as if it were protected. If you want gold on your phone, gold ETFs are SEBI-regulated.
Paying cash without a proper bill. You lose proof of purity and weight, and exchanging the piece later gets harder.
Overspending because the day is auspicious. A small coin carries the same tradition. Don't borrow to buy gold just for the occasion.
Not Buying Gold? Other Auspicious Things to Buy on Dhanteras
Gold is the best-known Dhanteras purchase, but it isn't the only one. Customs vary by region and family, and these five are among the most common:
Silver coins or utensils: the most popular alternative to gold, and far easier on the budget. Look for the 925 mark on silver jewellery and 999 on silver coins. Check the silver rate today on our sister site, SilverInforma.
Brass, copper or steel utensils: the oldest Dhanteras tradition, often a kalash or a lota.
A new broom (jhadu): believed to sweep away poverty and welcome Lakshmi.
Whole coriander seeds (dhaniya): offered in the puja, and in some homes sown afterwards.
Diyas and a Lakshmi-Ganesh idol or coin: for the Diwali puja two days later.
Dhanteras Gold-Buying Checklist
Screenshot this list and take it with you:
Budget fixed in rupees
Today's 22K and 24K rate checked
Making charges compared at 2 or 3 jewellers, as a percentage and in rupees
BIS logo, purity grade and HUID present on the piece
HUID verified on the BIS CARE app
Gross, stone and net weight shown on the tag and bill
Exchange and buyback deductions noted
PAN ready for a purchase above ₹2 lakh; no cash payment of ₹2 lakh or more
Itemised GST invoice with HUID, purity, rate and making charges
Bill stored with the piece
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Dhanteras in 2026?
Dhanteras is on Friday, 6 November 2026. The Trayodashi tithi runs from 10:30 AM on 6 November to 10:47 AM on 7 November, and Diwali Lakshmi Puja follows on Sunday, 8 November.
What is the best time to buy gold on Dhanteras 2026?
Any time between 10:30 AM on 6 November and 10:47 AM on 7 November. The puja muhurat is 6:02 PM to 7:57 PM in Delhi. For a calmer visit, try the Shubh choghadiya from 12:05 PM to 1:27 PM on 6 November.
Can I buy gold on the morning of 7 November?
Yes. Trayodashi continues until 10:47 AM on 7 November, and Drik Panchang lists 6:37 AM to 10:47 AM that day as an auspicious buying time.
Are gold prices high during Dhanteras?
No, not because of the festival. The gold rate follows global prices, the rupee-dollar rate and import duties, and changes daily. Festive demand can affect jewellers' offers and premiums, so compare the final bill.
Will gold prices go down after Dhanteras?
No one can predict that. The rate follows global markets, not the festival calendar. If you are buying for the occasion, don't delay hoping to time a dip. If you are buying to invest, spread your purchases over several months instead.
Should I buy a gold coin or jewellery on Dhanteras?
Buy a 24K coin if you want the most gold for your money or need it for the puja. Buy 22K or 18K jewellery if you will wear it, knowing making charges are not returned when you sell.
Are making charges included in the gold rate?
No. The rate a jeweller displays is for the metal only. Making charges (or wastage), stone costs and 3% GST are added on top to reach the final price.
Is gold jewellery a good investment on Dhanteras?
It is a good way to own gold you will wear, but making charges and GST mean the gold rate must rise about 15% before a typical 22K piece is worth what you paid. For pure investment, coins, bars or gold ETFs cost less.
Which gold purity is best for Dhanteras jewellery?
22K (916) for traditional jewellery and 18K (750) for stone-set or everyday pieces. Make sure every piece is BIS hallmarked with a HUID.
How much gold should I buy on Dhanteras?
There is no fixed amount. Even 0.5 gram or a 1 gram coin follows the tradition. Start with a rupee budget that fits your finances.
Is digital gold a good choice for Dhanteras?
It is convenient but not regulated by SEBI, which warned investors about it in November 2025. Gold ETFs are the regulated way to own gold without storing it.
Do I need a PAN card to buy gold on Dhanteras?
Only for a purchase above ₹2 lakh, in any payment mode. Below that, you can buy without PAN.
Can I exchange old gold without the bill?
Usually yes. The jeweller tests its purity and values it by weight, though some jewellers apply different terms when there is no bill.
