Dhanteras 2026 Gold: Festival on 6 November, Gold at ₹1.48 Lakh per 10 g, and What Jewellers Expect
Dhanteras falls on Friday, 6 November 2026, and buyers are heading into the festival with gold well below its early-2026 peak. India Bullion and Jewellers Association (IBJA) data show 24-carat (999) gold at ₹1,48,138 per 10 grams at the 1 October closing, before GST and making charges. This guide covers the Dhanteras 2026 gold calendar, where prices stand, what jewellers told The Indian Express they expect from the festive season, and how coins, jewellery, ETFs and digital gold compare.
There is no fresh benchmark today. IBJA’s site shows a holiday for 2 October (Gandhi Jayanti), so the 1 October rates remain the latest until trading resumes.
Dhanteras 2026 date and the Diwali calendar
According to Drik Panchang’s Dhanteras page, Dhantrayodashi is on Friday, 6 November 2026, with the puja muhurat in New Delhi from 6:02 PM to 7:57 PM. Timings vary by city. Last year the festival fell on 18 October, so it comes nearly three weeks later this year, and there are 35 days to go from today.
| Date | Day | Occasion | Markets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 November 2026 | Friday | Dhanteras | Normal trading day |
| 8 November 2026 | Sunday | Diwali Laxmi Pujan | Muhurat trading on NSE; timings to be notified |
| 10 November 2026 | Tuesday | Diwali Balipratipada | NSE trading holiday |
Market dates are from NSE’s 2026 trading holiday circular, which says Muhurat trading “will be conducted on Sunday, November 08, 2026”. Gold ETF buyers who want to buy on the day itself can do so during normal market hours on 6 November.
Dhanteras 2026 gold: where prices stand
| IBJA rate, 1 October 2026 | Opening (AM) | Closing (PM) |
|---|---|---|
| Gold 999 (24K), per 10 g | ₹1,48,687 | ₹1,48,138 |
| Gold 995, per 10 g | ₹1,48,092 | ₹1,47,545 |
| Gold 916 (22K), per 10 g | ₹1,36,197 | ₹1,35,694 |
| Gold 750 (18K), per 10 g | ₹1,11,515 | ₹1,11,104 |
| Silver 999, per kg | ₹2,21,954 | ₹2,20,829 |
Source: IBJA rates, which exclude 3% GST and making charges. The 999 closing rate was ₹250 higher than on 30 September (₹1,47,888), a small move; our report on gold and silver prices on 30 September has the earlier session.
The bigger story is the fall from the top. Gold futures on MCX hit ₹2.3 lakh per 10 grams in early 2026 and were trading around ₹1.5 lakh in the last week of September, The Indian Express reported on 28 September. That is roughly 35% below the peak by our calculation, but still above the ₹1.2 lakh to ₹1.3 lakh range of last year’s festive season. The paper linked the slide to investors moving into bonds as interest rates rise, after a US Federal Reserve hike in September. We looked at the buy-or-wait question in more detail in gold at ₹1.5 lakh: buy now or wait?
What do jewellers expect this festive season?
Jewellers interviewed by The Indian Express expect Dhanteras 2026 gold sales to show fewer grams sold than last year but higher sales in rupees, because each gram costs more. Their forecasts differ:
| Who | Expectation for the festive season |
|---|---|
| Colin Shah, MD, Kama Jewelry | Volumes “may come down a bit. Maybe 10-15%”, with value making up for it |
| Aditya Modak, Director, PNGS Reva Diamonds | High-single-digit to low-double-digit value growth; more moderate volume growth |
| Prithviraj Kothari, President, IBJA | 15-20% year-on-year volume growth as pent-up demand returns, still below pre-rally levels |
Kothari said footfall picked up “meaningfully” during Ganesh Chaturthi after a subdued first half. The report also found Dhanteras 2026 gold demand tilting towards lower-karat jewellery, studded pieces and lighter designs, with many customers exchanging old gold to fund new purchases. Large chains are gaining at the expense of small standalone shops, which say they cannot match the discounts.
Coins, jewellery, ETF or digital gold: how the formats compare
The format you pick decides what you pay above the gold price and who regulates the product. The table sets out the main options for Dhanteras 2026 gold purchases.
| Format | Costs over the gold price | Regulation and checks | Usually bought for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jewellery | Making charges plus GST; lower resale value after deductions | BIS hallmark with HUID code | Wearing, weddings, gifting |
| Coins and bars | GST plus a dealer premium; usually no making charge | BIS hallmark, 24K 999 or 995 | Puja, gifting, holding physical gold |
| Gold ETFs | Fund expense ratio and brokerage; no storage worry | SEBI-regulated mutual fund units held in demat | Investment |
| Electronic Gold Receipts and exchange-traded gold contracts | Brokerage and exchange charges | SEBI-regulated, traded on stock exchanges | Investment and trading |
| Digital gold on apps | Spread between buy and sell price, plus GST | Outside SEBI’s purview | Small, regular purchases |
Here is what the benchmark implies before making charges. Ten grams of 22-carat gold at IBJA’s 1 October closing rate of ₹1,35,694, plus 3% GST, comes to ₹1,39,765. A 5-gram 24-carat coin at ₹14,814 a gram costs ₹74,069, or ₹76,291 with GST. Jewellers’ counter prices can differ from IBJA’s benchmark, so compare the per-gram rate on the bill.
What SEBI has said about digital gold
In a press release dated 8 November 2025, SEBI said digital gold and e-gold products sold by online platforms “are neither notified as securities nor regulated as commodity derivatives” and may expose investors to counterparty and operational risks. None of the securities-market investor protection mechanisms apply to them. The SEBI-regulated routes it listed are gold ETFs, Electronic Gold Receipts and exchange-traded commodity derivatives.
If you already hold a fair amount of physical gold, our guide on how much gold you can keep at home explains the limits tax officers follow during searches. Gold already in the locker can also back a gold loan if you need cash during the festive season.
Buying before the festival
Prices will move daily between now and 6 November, and nobody quoted above gave a price forecast. Some Dhanteras 2026 gold buyers split a planned purchase, booking part of it early and the rest on Dhanteras for the tradition. Others prefer a gold ETF for the investment portion and a small coin for the puja. Keeping the bill with the HUID details matters for any later resale or exchange.
FAQ: Dhanteras 2026 gold
What is the Dhanteras 2026 date?
Friday, 6 November 2026. Diwali Laxmi Pujan follows on Sunday, 8 November.
Is gold cheaper than last Dhanteras?
No. MCX gold was around ₹1.2 lakh to ₹1.3 lakh per 10 grams in last year’s festive season and around ₹1.5 lakh in late September 2026, according to The Indian Express. It is, however, far below the ₹2.3 lakh peak of early 2026.
Is digital gold safe to buy on Dhanteras?
Depends on the risk you accept. SEBI does not regulate digital gold sold by apps, so its investor protection rules do not cover it; gold ETFs and Electronic Gold Receipts are the regulated alternatives.
Is there Muhurat trading on Diwali?
Yes, on Sunday, 8 November. NSE will notify the timings later.
Disclaimer: Gold rates are IBJA benchmarks for 1 October 2026 and exclude GST and making charges; jewellers’ outlook is as reported by The Indian Express. This article is for information and is not a recommendation to buy or sell gold.
