Dhanteras 2026: Date, Muhurat and a Smart Gold Buying Guide (Hallmark, GST, Making Charges, ETF vs Digital Gold), Explained
Dhanteras falls on Friday, 6 November 2026, with gold at around 1.5 lakh rupees per 10 grams. Before you buy, here is the date and muhurat, how to check a hallmark, how jewellers calculate your bill, and how jewellery, coins, gold ETFs, digital gold and Sovereign Gold Bonds compare.
Dhanteras is the most popular day of the year to buy gold in India. In 2026 it falls on Friday, 6 November, two days before Diwali. With gold near ₹1.5 lakh per 10 grams, a small mistake on purity, making charges or the product you choose can cost you thousands of rupees. Here is everything to check before you pay.
The 60-second version
- Date: Friday, 6 November 2026.
- Gold price: About ₹1,51,500 per 10 grams for 24 carat and ₹1,38,900 for 22 carat in mid-October, before GST and making charges.
- Check the hallmark: BIS logo + purity (22K916) + 6-digit HUID. Verify it on the BIS CARE app.
- Your bill: gold value + making charges + 3% GST on gold + 5% GST on making charges.
- Buying to invest? Gold ETFs or gold funds are cheaper and regulated. Digital gold is not regulated by SEBI.
- No new Sovereign Gold Bonds since February 2024.
Dhanteras 2026: date and muhurat
| Detail | Timing |
|---|---|
| Dhanteras | Friday, 6 November 2026 |
| Trayodashi tithi begins | 10:30 AM, 6 November |
| Trayodashi tithi ends | 10:47 AM, 7 November |
| Dhanteras puja muhurat | 6:37 PM to 8:37 PM, 6 November |
| Pradosh kaal | 6:02 PM to 8:41 PM, 6 November |
Timings as given by Shubh Panchang. They vary by city and by panchang, so check a local source for your Laxmi or Dhanvantari puja.
The full Diwali week: Dhanteras (Fri 6 Nov), Chhoti Diwali (Sat 7 Nov), Diwali (Sun 8 Nov, with stock market Muhurat trading), and Balipratipada (Tue 10 Nov). Read our explainer on Muhurat trading 2026.
What gold costs right now
| City (11 Oct 2026) | 22 carat (10 g) | 24 carat (10 g) |
|---|---|---|
| Delhi | ₹1,38,950 | ₹1,51,570 |
| Mumbai | ₹1,38,800 | ₹1,51,410 |
| Kolkata | ₹1,38,800 | ₹1,51,410 |
Source: The Hans India, based on the previous day's closing rates. Bengaluru and Chennai were quoted at ₹1,51,410 for 24 carat on 10 October. Prices change every day, so check the rate on the day you buy.
Jewellery is usually 22 carat, so compare jewellery with the 22 carat rate, not the 24 carat one some shops display.
How your jewellery bill is calculated
Take a 10 gram 22 carat chain, using the Delhi rate above and an illustrative 12% making charge:
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Gold value (10 g × ₹13,895) | ₹1,38,950 |
| Making charges (12% of gold value) | ₹16,674 |
| GST on gold (3%) | ₹4,169 |
| GST on making charges (5%) | ₹834 |
| Total | ₹1,60,627 |
Illustration only. Making charges vary widely by jeweller and design, and may be quoted per gram or as a flat amount.
What to take from this: the making charge plus GST added about ₹21,700, or 16%, to the value of the gold. When you sell or exchange jewellery, you generally get back only the gold value, minus any deduction, not the making charge or GST.
Tips to cut the bill:
- Compare making charges, not just the gold rate. Ask for them in writing.
- Plain designs and coins have much lower making charges than intricate jewellery.
- Watch out for "zero making charge" offers that raise the gold rate or add other fees.
- Ask for a detailed bill showing weight, purity, HUID, gold rate, making charges and GST separately.
How to check the hallmark
Since 1 April 2023, gold jewellery sold by jewellers must carry a 6-digit HUID hallmark (with a few exemptions, such as very light articles). A valid hallmark has three marks:
- The BIS logo (a triangle)
- The purity grade, such as 22K916 (91.6% pure), 18K750 or 14K585
- A 6-digit alphanumeric HUID code, unique to that piece
Verify before you pay: open the free BIS CARE app, choose Verify HUID, and enter the code. It shows the purity, type of article and the jeweller's registration. If the details do not match, do not buy.
Jewellery, coins, ETF, digital gold or SGB: which should you buy?
| Option | Best for | Costs and risks | Regulation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jewellery | Wearing, gifting, tradition | Highest cost: making charges plus GST, loses value on resale | BIS hallmarking |
| Coins and bars | Tradition at lower cost | Low making charges, 3% GST, need safe storage | BIS hallmarking for coins sold by jewellers |
| Gold ETFs | Investing | Small expense ratio and brokerage, need a demat account | SEBI regulated |
| Gold mutual funds | SIP investing without demat | Expense ratio slightly higher than ETFs | SEBI regulated |
| Digital gold (apps) | Very small amounts | Not SEBI or RBI regulated, depends on the provider's credibility, 3% GST | Unregulated |
| Sovereign Gold Bonds | Long-term investing | No new issue since Feb 2024. Existing series trade on exchanges, often at a premium | Issued by RBI for the government |
On digital gold: on 8 November 2025, SEBI cautioned investors that digital gold products offered online are outside its regulatory framework, and that investor protection mechanisms for securities do not apply. It pointed to gold ETFs, Electronic Gold Receipts and exchange-traded commodity derivatives as regulated alternatives.
On SGBs: the last tranche was 2023-24 Series IV in February 2024, and no new tranche has been announced. From 1 April 2026, the tax-free treatment of gains at maturity applies only to original subscribers holding until maturity, as reported. That makes buying an existing series on the exchange less attractive than it used to be.
Cash, PAN and tax rules to know
- Cash limit: a seller cannot accept ₹2 lakh or more in cash in a single transaction. Pay larger amounts by UPI, card or bank transfer.
- PAN: you must give your PAN for purchases above ₹2 lakh.
- Tax when you sell: physical gold held for more than 24 months is taxed as long-term capital gains at 12.5% (without indexation) under the rules in force since July 2024. Shorter holdings are taxed at your income slab rate. Gold ETFs are long term after 12 months.
- Keep your bill. You will need it to show your purchase cost when you sell.
How much gold should you buy?
There is no single right amount. Many financial planners suggest keeping gold to a modest share of your investments, often cited as 5 to 15%, as a hedge rather than a main investment. For tradition, a small coin or a light piece is enough. Avoid borrowing or using a credit card EMI to buy gold just because it is Dhanteras.
The bottom line
Dhanteras 2026 is on Friday, 6 November. If you are buying jewellery, compare making charges, insist on a HUID hallmark and a detailed bill, and verify on BIS CARE. If you are buying gold as an investment, a gold ETF or gold fund is cheaper and regulated, while digital gold apps carry risks that SEBI has flagged. Buy what you need, not what the festive offers push.
This article is based on Shubh Panchang's Dhanteras 2026 timings, gold rates reported by The Hans India for 10 and 11 October 2026, SEBI's press release of 8 November 2025 on digital gold, reporting on Sovereign Gold Bond issuance by Outlook Business and GoldenPi, and BIS hallmarking rules, as of 17 October 2026. It is general information, not investment advice.
Frequently asked questions
›When is Dhanteras in 2026?
Dhanteras is on Friday, 6 November 2026. According to Shubh Panchang, Trayodashi tithi runs from 10:30 AM on 6 November to 10:47 AM on 7 November 2026, and the Dhanteras puja muhurat is 6:37 PM to 8:37 PM on 6 November. Exact timings differ by city, so check a local panchang.
›What is the gold rate before Dhanteras 2026?
On 10 and 11 October 2026, 24 carat gold was quoted at about 1,51,400 to 1,51,600 rupees per 10 grams in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru and Chennai, and 22 carat at about 1,38,800 to 1,38,950 rupees, as reported by The Hans India. These rates exclude GST and making charges and change daily.
›How do I check if gold jewellery is genuine?
Hallmarked jewellery must carry the BIS logo, the purity grade (for example 22K916) and a 6-digit alphanumeric HUID code. You can verify the HUID with the free BIS CARE app, which shows the purity, article type and the jeweller's registration details.
›How much GST is charged on gold jewellery?
GST is 3 percent on the value of the gold and 5 percent on the making charges. Making charges themselves are set by the jeweller and often range from a few percent to over 20 percent of the gold value, depending on the design.
›Is digital gold safe to buy?
SEBI warned investors on 8 November 2025 that digital gold sold by online platforms is not regulated by it and that securities market investor protections do not apply. Regulated alternatives include gold ETFs, gold mutual funds and Electronic Gold Receipts.
›Can I buy Sovereign Gold Bonds this Dhanteras?
Not as a fresh issue. The government has not issued a new Sovereign Gold Bond tranche since February 2024. You can buy existing series on NSE or BSE, but the capital gains exemption at maturity applies only to original subscribers from 1 April 2026, as reported.