The short answer
Dhanteras is on Friday 6 November 2026. For wearing, buy hallmarked jewellery and check the making charges, since 10 g of 22K jewellery at 12% making costs about ₹1,50,739 against a metal value of about ₹1.31 lakh. For investing, coins and bars lose less to costs, and gold ETFs and gold funds lose the least, with no GST and no storage risk. Gains on any form are taxed at 12.5% once held long enough: 12 months for gold ETFs, 24 months for physical gold and gold funds.
Dhanteras 2026 and today's gold price
Dhanteras falls on Friday 6 November 2026, two days before Diwali. Buying gold or silver on the day is a long tradition, and it is also one of the busiest days of the year for jewellers, so prices are firm and stocks run low.
The same budget buys less gold than last year. ₹1 lakh spent on 24K coins buys about 6.8 g at today's rate of about ₹14,258 a gram, against about 7.3 g at last Dhanteras's ₹13,278. Prices change daily and differ by city, so use the rate on your jeweller's board on the day.
What each way of buying gold costs
Gold is gold, but the route you take decides how much of your money actually becomes gold, and how much you get back when you sell.
| Option | Costs when you buy | When you sell | Of ₹1 lakh, roughly this becomes gold |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jewellery (22K) | Making charges of about 8% to 25%, plus 3% GST | Jewellers usually pay the gold value only, less a deduction | About ₹87,000 at 12% making |
| Coins and bars (24K) | 3% GST, plus a small dealer premium | Sold at near the gold value; banks do not buy back coins | About ₹97,000 |
| Gold ETF | Brokerage; yearly expense ratio of about 0.5% to 1% | Sold on the exchange at market price | About ₹99,500 |
| Gold mutual fund | No demat needed; yearly expense ratio, often a little higher than an ETF | Redeemed with the fund at its value | About ₹99,500 |
| Digital gold | 3% GST, and a gap between buying and selling prices | Sold back to the platform | About ₹94,000 to ₹97,000 |
For jewellery, ask for the making charge in writing and check whether it is a percentage or a fixed amount per gram. On 10 g of 22K jewellery at about ₹14,258 a gram for 24K, the bill is about ₹1,34,596 with no making charge, ₹1,50,739 at 12% making and ₹1,61,501 at 20%.
Buying jewellery: checks at the counter
- Check the hallmark. Gold jewellery must carry a BIS hallmark with a 6-character HUID code. Enter it in the BIS Care app to confirm the purity and the jeweller.
- Get the rate for your karat. 22K gold is 91.6% pure, so its rate is the 24K rate × 0.916. Ask which rate the bill uses.
- Read the invoice line by line. It should show weight, karat, rate, making charges, GST and the hallmarking fee separately.
- Ask about the buy-back policy before you pay. Find out what deduction applies if you exchange or sell the piece later.
- Keep the bill. You need it to prove the purchase price when you sell, which decides your tax.
Gold ETFs and gold funds
If the goal is investment rather than wearing, gold ETFs and gold mutual funds avoid making charges, GST and storage. A gold ETF trades on the stock exchange and needs a demat account; a gold mutual fund invests in gold ETFs and can be bought with just a bank account, including through a monthly SIP. Both track the gold price closely, less a small yearly expense ratio.
Sovereign Gold Bonds have had no new issue since February 2024. Older bonds still trade on the exchange, but from tax year 2026-27 the tax-free redemption at maturity applies only to people who bought at the original issue and held to maturity, not to buyers on the exchange.
Tax when you sell gold
| Form of gold | Long-term after | Long-term tax | Short-term tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jewellery, coins, bars, digital gold | 24 months | 12.5%, no indexation | Your slab rate |
| Gold ETF | 12 months | 12.5%, no indexation | Your slab rate |
| Gold mutual fund | 24 months | 12.5%, no indexation | Your slab rate |
- Cess is added on top of these rates, and the ₹1.25 lakh yearly exemption for listed shares does not apply to gold.
- Gold received as a gift from a close relative is not taxed when you receive it; when you sell, the giver's purchase cost and date are used.
- Selling old jewellery to buy new is a sale too. The gain on the old piece is taxable, even if you exchange it at the same shop.
How much gold to hold
Gold earns no interest and its price can stay flat for years, but it often holds up when shares fall and when the rupee weakens. That is why many planners treat it as a small part of savings, commonly 5% to 10%, rather than the main investment. Buying a fixed amount every year, or through a monthly SIP in a gold fund, avoids trying to time the price around one festival.
Frequently asked questions
When is Dhanteras in 2026?
Dhanteras is on Friday 6 November 2026, two days before Diwali on 8 November.
Is it better to buy gold jewellery or a gold coin on Dhanteras?
For wearing, jewellery is the point, but making charges of 8% to 25% are not recovered when you sell. For saving, 24K coins or bars lose much less, about 3% GST plus a small premium, and gold ETFs or gold funds lose the least.
How much GST is charged on gold jewellery?
3% on the value of the gold, and making charges are usually taxed at 3% as part of the same sale. If you give your own gold to a goldsmith and pay only for making, that job work is taxed at 5%.
Is digital gold safe?
Digital gold is not regulated by SEBI, which cautioned investors in November 2025 that the protections for regulated products do not apply. Gold ETFs and gold mutual funds are regulated alternatives.
How is gold taxed when I sell it?
Physical gold, digital gold and gold mutual funds held over 24 months, and gold ETFs held over 12 months, are taxed at 12.5% without indexation. Shorter holdings are taxed at your income tax slab rate. Cess is added on top.
How do I check if gold jewellery is genuine?
Look for the BIS hallmark and its 6-character HUID code, then enter the code in the BIS Care app. It shows the purity and the jeweller that registered the piece.
