Key takeaways
- Dhanteras (Dhantrayodashi) 2026: Friday, November 6; it opens the five days of Diwali
- Popular buys: gold coins (often with Lakshmi or Lakshmi-Ganesha), gold jewellery, and silver coins and utensils
- 24K (99.9%) is for coins and bars; 22K (91.6%) is the usual jewellery standard
- For jewellery, compare the gold value, the making charge and any wastage line by line
- Ask about buyback before you buy, and keep the receipt
When is Dhanteras 2026 in Canada?
Dhanteras, also called Dhantrayodashi, falls on Friday, November 6, 2026. It is the first day of the five days of Diwali. Drik Panchang gives these times for Toronto:
| Toronto (Eastern Time) | Time |
|---|---|
| Trayodashi tithi begins | 12:00 PM, Thursday, Nov 5 |
| Trayodashi tithi ends | 12:17 AM, Saturday, Nov 7 |
| Dhanteras puja muhurat | 5:25 PM to 7:11 PM, Nov 6 |
| Pradosh Kaal | 5:02 PM to 7:50 PM, Nov 6 |
| Auspicious times to buy gold | 7:00 AM, Nov 6 to 12:17 AM, Nov 7 |
Drik Panchang also lists buying times on the afternoon and night of November 5, once the tithi begins. Times differ by city. For Vancouver and other cities, and for the full festival, see Dhanteras 2026 in Canada.
What do people buy on Dhanteras?
Many Hindu families buy something of value on Dhanteras as a sign of welcoming prosperity. Drik Panchang notes that, apart from jewellery, coins are the most preferred gold purchase, often with Goddess Lakshmi, or Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha, on them. It also notes that on Dhanteras silver coins are in demand, along with silver items such as a kalash, bowls, spoons, tumblers and Lakshmi-Ganesha statues. Some families also buy new utensils for the home.
In Canada, common choices are:
- A small gold coin or bar (1 g to 10 g) from a jeweller, bank or dealer.
- Gold jewellery, often 22K, from South Asian jewellers in many Canadian cities.
- Silver coins or utensils as a lower-cost option. See the silver price in Canada.
Customs vary by family and region. Buy what fits your tradition and your budget.
Should you buy 22K or 24K gold for Dhanteras?
Karat tells you how much of the item is pure gold:
| Karat | Gold content | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 24K | 99.9% | Coins and bars |
| 22K | 91.6% (“916”) | Traditional South Asian jewellery |
| 18K | 75% | Jewellery with stones |
| 14K | 58.5% | Everyday North American jewellery |
24K is soft, so it is used for coins and bars rather than jewellery. If your aim is to hold value, 24K coins or bars carry less markup. If you want to wear it, 22K is the common choice. More in 22K vs 24K gold.
Some families think in tolas. One tola is 11.6638 g.
How do you compare making charges on jewellery?
A jewellery price is usually built from three parts. Ask the jeweller to show each one:
- Gold value: weight in grams × that day’s rate for the karat.
- Making charge: the cost of the work. It may be a flat amount, a rate per gram, or a percentage of the gold value.
- Wastage: some jewellers add a percentage for gold lost while making the piece.
Example with made-up numbers: a 10 g, 22K chain. For example, if 22K gold is $140 a gram, the gold value is $1,400. Shop A charges 12% making ($168): total $1,568 before tax. Shop B charges $20 a gram ($200) with no wastage: $1,600. Shop C quotes 8% making plus 5% wastage ($112 + $70): $1,582. The lowest “making %” is not always the lowest total.
Also check: the karat stamp, the weight on a scale in front of you, whether stones are weighed in, and the shop’s buyback or exchange terms. Gold jewellery is generally subject to GST/HST (13% HST in Ontario, 5% GST plus 7% PST in BC), while qualifying 24K bullion bars and coins are generally exempt under CRA rules.
Where can you buy gold for Dhanteras in Canada?
- Jewellers for 22K jewellery and festival coins. Get the price breakdown in writing.
- Banks such as TD, CIBC and RBC for 24K Royal Canadian Mint coins and bars. Order early; branch stock can be limited before festivals.
- Bullion dealers for small bars and coins; compare the premium over spot.
A few planning tips for the festival week:
- Set a budget in grams, not dollars. Decide, for example, on a 5 g coin or a 10 g chain, then compare shops on the same weight and karat.
- Check the rate that morning. Gold prices move every day. Shops post their own daily rates, which can differ from the market price.
- Get the breakdown in writing and keep the receipt for any future exchange or sale.
If you would rather build up gold a little at a time, RemitBee Gold launches in early 2027 with pure 24K gold from $10, and lets you turn 1 g into a gold coin. Join the waitlist at gold.remitbee.com.
Gold prices can go down as well as up. Past prices don’t predict future prices.
Next steps: check a jeweller’s quote with the jewellery markup calculator and see the gold price by karat in Canada.
Common questions
When is Dhanteras 2026?
What is good to buy on Dhanteras?
What time should I buy gold on Dhanteras in Toronto?
Is it better to buy a gold coin or jewellery on Dhanteras?
Sources
- Drik Panchang: Dhanteras 2026 puja timings for Toronto
- Drik Panchang: Auspicious timings to buy gold on Diwali 2026, Toronto
- CRA: GST/HST Memorandum 17-1, Definition of financial instrument (precious metals, July 2026)
- CRA: GST/HST rates by province
- Royal Canadian Mint: Can I buy physical bullion from a Canadian bank? (Oct 24, 2024)
- RBC Capital Markets: Metals (retail bullion at RBC branches)
- CIBC: Precious metals purchasing