Across India and in communities around the world, Friday marks the quiet beginning of Diwali. Dhanteras, also known as Dhantrayodashi, falls on November 6 this year and opens five days of celebration. It is a day for prayers, for cleaning and lighting homes, and, for millions of families, for buying something that will last.
What Dhanteras means
The festival is associated with wealth, good health and long life. According to Hindu tradition, it is linked to the Samudra Manthan, the churning of the cosmic ocean, from which Lord Dhanvantari is said to have emerged carrying a pot of amrit, the nectar of immortality. That connection explains why the day is about wellbeing as well as prosperity.
Over the years, the custom of buying gold and silver has grown into a wider ritual of purchasing jewellery, coins, utensils and household items. Many families believe that new metal brought home on this day invites good fortune for the year ahead.
The buying window
According to Drik Panchang, as cited by The Hans India, the favourable period for buying gold and silver in Hyderabad begins at 10:30 a.m. on November 6 and continues until 6:37 a.m. on November 7. The Trayodashi tithi begins at 10:30 a.m. on Friday and ends at 10:47 a.m. on Saturday.
Many families prefer to finish their shopping before the evening prayers. The Lakshmi-Kubera puja window in Hyderabad runs from 6:16 p.m. to 8:14 p.m., and the Pradosh Kaal lasts from 5:43 p.m. to 8:14 p.m., according to Nakshatra Tak. These timings differ between cities because of local sunrise and sunset, so readers elsewhere should check a local calendar.
What gold costs today
Prices remain high. Indicative rates for Hyderabad from Goodreturns put 24-carat gold at Rs 1,46,020 per 10 grams, 22-carat at Rs 1,33,850 and 18-carat at Rs 1,09,520. Silver was quoted at Rs 2,10,000 per kilogram. These figures are guides only, because rates vary from jeweller to jeweller and city to city, and making charges, wastage and taxes can raise the final bill considerably.
How shoppers have adapted
High prices have already changed how people celebrate. Last year, Reuters reported that Indian buyers leaned toward coins and bars rather than jewellery during Dhanteras, because bars and coins carry lower making charges. Sales volumes were 10% to 15% lower than a year earlier, but the total value spent rose because each gram cost so much more.
Retailers responded with discounts on making charges to keep shoppers coming through the festive and wedding seasons. Many households now buy smaller quantities, choose silver, or use digital gold and exchange-traded funds as alternatives. Others choose steel or brass utensils, which are traditionally considered auspicious and cost far less.
Practical advice before you buy
Whatever form you choose, a few checks can protect your money:
Check the purity mark
Look for the hallmark on jewellery and confirm the HUID number, the unique identification code attached to hallmarked pieces.
Compare prices and charges
Ask the jeweller for the day’s rate, the making charges and any wastage fees before agreeing to a purchase, and compare quotes across shops.
Keep the paperwork
Always ask for a proper bill that lists the weight, purity and price, as it will matter if you ever resell or exchange the item.
A festival that travels
Diwali is celebrated well beyond India. Families in the United Kingdom, the Gulf, Singapore and North America mark the occasion with prayers, sweets and gatherings, and Dhanteras purchases are often made through local jewellers or online. For many in the diaspora, the first evening of the festival is a way of staying connected to home.
The rituals are also a reminder that the festival is not only about spending. The cleaning of homes, the lighting of lamps and the evening prayers are meant to welcome prosperity in a broader sense, including health, family and peace of mind.
As the lamps are lit this evening, families will be balancing tradition and budget in equal measure. Whether the offering is a small coin, a silver piece or a new set of pots, the gesture is the same: a hope for a better year ahead.
