Dhanteras 2026 in Canada: date, puja muhurat in Toronto and Vancouver, and what to buy

When is Dhanteras 2026 in Canada?

Dhanteras (also called Dhantrayodashi) falls on the Trayodashi, the 13th lunar day of the dark half of the month of Kartika. In 2026 that is Friday, November 6, in Toronto, Vancouver and India. It is the first big day of the five-day Diwali festival. Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) follows on Sunday, November 8.

Drik Panchang says the best time for the evening Lakshmi puja is during Pradosh Kaal, the period after sunset, while a fixed (sthir) lagna called Vrishabha Kaal is rising. These are the times it lists for Canada:

Times are local. Ontario is back on standard time after November 1, 2026. British Columbia no longer turns its clocks back: it stays on Pacific time at UTC-7 all year. So in November, Vancouver is two hours behind Toronto, not three. If you live in another city, set your location on Drik Panchang, or ask your temple or family priest.

What is the best time to buy gold on Dhanteras 2026?

Drik Panchang treats the whole of Trayodashi as a good time to buy gold. For Friday, November 6, it lists:

• Toronto: 7:00 AM on November 6 to 12:17 AM on November 7. Within that, its auspicious choghadiya slots include 7:00 AM to 10:46 AM, 12:01 PM to 1:16 PM, 3:47 PM to 5:02 PM and 8:32 PM to 10:17 PM.
• Vancouver: 8:09 AM to 10:17 PM on November 6. Slots include 8:09 AM to 11:44 AM, 12:56 PM to 2:07 PM, 4:31 PM to 5:43 PM and 9:20 PM to 10:17 PM.

In practice, most people buy during store hours and do the puja in the evening. Stores in Brampton, Mississauga, Surrey and other cities with large South Asian communities can be busy that evening. If a store lets you reserve a piece, you can pick it up on the day. Families who follow the muhurat closely often ask their priest which slot fits their own chart.

What does Dhanteras mean?

"Dhan" means wealth and "teras" means thirteen, for the 13th lunar day. On this day many families worship Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, and Lord Kubera. Dhanteras is also Dhanvantari Trayodashi, the birth anniversary of Lord Dhanvantari, the god of Ayurveda. Hindu texts say he came out of the churning of the ocean holding a pot of amrit on this day.

In the evening many homes also light Yama Deepam, a lamp placed outside the home for Yama, the god of death, to protect the family. Buying something new in precious metal on this day is believed to bring growth and prosperity to the home. That is why Dhanteras is the busiest gold-buying day for Indian families, in India and in Canada.

What to buy on Dhanteras: gold coins, bars or jewellery?

There is no single right purchase. It depends on why you are buying.

Many families in South Asia measure gold in tolas. One tola is 11.6638 grams. Our tola to gram converter helps if a relative quotes a price per tola or per 10 g. Our full guide, buying gold on Dhanteras in Canada, compares where to buy.

What is the gold rate on Dhanteras 2026?

Gold prices change through the day, so we do not print a number here. The live gold rate in Canadian dollars is shown in the box at the top of this page. On November 6, check it before you go to the store, and again before you pay. For example, if 24K gold is $150 a gram, 22K gold is worth about $137 a gram (91.6% of $150), before any making charge.

Stores set their own prices. They often post a daily 22K and 24K rate per gram, which is usually above the spot price. Compare the store rate with the gold price in Toronto or the gold price in Vancouver. If you are comparing with family in India, see the gold rate in India. Gold prices can go down as well as up. Past prices don't predict future prices.

How do you buy gold smart on Dhanteras?

22K or 24K?

24K gold is 99.9% pure. It is soft, so it is used mostly for coins and bars. 22K gold is 91.6% pure (often stamped 916). It is a little harder, so most South Asian jewellery is 22K. 18K is 75% gold and 14K is 58.5%. For the same weight, a higher karat has more gold in it, so it costs more. Use our gold price by karat page to compare.

Making charges

Jewellery costs more than the gold inside it. Stores add a making charge (also called a labour or design charge). Some charge a percentage of the gold value. Others charge a set amount per gram. Ask for the gold weight, the karat and the making charge as separate lines on the bill. Then you can compare stores. Our jewellery markup calculator shows how much you pay above the gold value.

Buy-back and exchange

Ask the store, before you pay, what it pays if you sell or exchange the piece later. Many stores deduct the making charge, and some deduct more. Get the policy in writing on the receipt. Coins and bars usually lose less on resale than detailed jewellery.

Check the stamp

In Canada, a quality mark (like 22K or 916) is not required. But if a store puts one on, it must be truthful and come with a Canadian trademark, under the Precious Metals Marking Act (as of October 2026). Keep your receipt with the karat, weight and store name.

If you only want the gold, not a design, RemitBee Gold is a new option coming in early 2027: 24K gold from $10 at the live price, with one 0.5% fee shown before you confirm (see gold.remitbee.com). It is not available yet, so for Dhanteras 2026 you would buy from a store or a bank.

Before you shop, use our gold value calculator to see what a piece is worth by weight and karat, and keep the live gold price in Canada open on your phone.

Common questions

Sources

• Drik Panchang: Dhanteras puja muhurat 2026, Toronto
• Drik Panchang: Dhanteras puja muhurat 2026, Vancouver
• Drik Panchang: Dhanteras puja muhurat 2026, New Delhi
• Drik Panchang: Auspicious time to buy gold, Diwali 2026, Toronto
• Drik Panchang: Auspicious time to buy gold, Diwali 2026, Vancouver
• Government of British Columbia: Permanent daylight saving time (Pacific time, UTC-7)
• Competition Bureau Canada: Precious metals marking

Checked against these sources on October 24, 2026. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.