Dhanteras 2025: Markets set to glitter despite soaring gold and silver prices — 5 things to watch, from muhurat to rates

Dhanteras 2025: As India gears up to celebrate Dhanteras, markets are expecting strong sales despite the blazing rally in gold and silver prices.

The five-day festivities will begin on October 18, 2025, when, as per age-old traditions, people will offer prayers to Lord Kubera and buy precious metals.

Also known as Dhantrayodashi, Dhanteras has long been a major driver of gold and silver demand. While gold is inching closer to Rs 1.3 lakh per 10 grams and silver has crossed Rs 2 lakh per kg in some locations, analysts believe this may not dampen festive demand.

Instead, buyers may opt for lighter caratage or coins to stay within budget while adhering to the Dhanteras shopping tradition.

As the countdown begins for the D-Day, here’s your Dhanteras guide:

1: Dhanteras 2025 shopping muhurat: While there was some confusion around the Dhanteras date, latest panchangs and calculations by purohit says that the festival will be celebrated on October 18 itself. As per the Hindu calendar also known as panchang, Trayodashi Tithi Begins will commence from 12:45 PM (October 18) and end on 1:10 PM (October 19.

2: Dhanteras gold, silver shopping muhurat: As per the muhurat, this year, the most auspicious time to buy gold and silver ornaments, coins, idols is between 4:30 PM and 8:00 PM on October 18. Though it is a Saturday, priests say that gold and silver can still be bought as it is Dhanteras muhurat.

3: Dhanteras sales expectations: Top jewellers are bullish over the D-Day sales. Piyush Gupta, Director, PP Jewellers by Pawan Gupta remained upbeat for Saturday gold rush. “Dhanteras has always been an auspicious occasion for buying gold, as families see it as a symbol of prosperity and good fortune. Despite higher prices this year, we believe the sentiment of tradition will continue to drive demand. Gold is not just a purchase, it is an emotion tied to wealth security and family celebrations,” Piyush Gupta said. “While prices are firm, buyers view gold as a long-term investment, especially around Diwali and wedding season. We expect volume sales to be around 20% lower compared to last year, but in value terms this translates into a healthy 15–20% growth. This shows that gold remains a trusted and meaningful choice, even in times of price fluctuations,” he added.

On special Dhanteras offers, Gupta further said, “Festive demand is showing encouraging trends, with customers prioritizing purity, transparent pricing, and value. This Dhanteras, we are offering 5.9% making charges on all articles along with free gifts on every purchase. Despite higher gold prices, coins, light daily-wear, and bridal jewellery continue to see strong interest. Our focus remains on trust, fair value, and festive designs across our stores.”

Speaking on festive trends, Atul Sinha, COO of CaratLane, was quoted by CNBC-TV18 as saying, “Consumer interest is very strong heading into Dhanteras this year. Customers are visiting stores early for festive and wedding-season purchases, showing optimism and readiness to celebrate.”

He added that despite high gold prices, Indian consumers rarely defer jewellery purchases for traditional occasions. Instead, buyers are adjusting their budgets by opting for lightweight designs, lower karat gold such as 9KT and 14KT, or diamond-studded pieces — striking a balance between emotional and material value.

4: Current gold and silver rates

5: Lab-grown diamonds make a splash: Talking about the new trend among younger buyers, Rupesh Jain, co-founder, Lucira told Moneycontrol: "Over the past year, we’ve seen lab grown diamonds move from curiosity to conscious choice. With prices 40 - 70% lower than mined diamonds, they’ve opened up access to larger and higher-quality stones for a younger, value-driven audience. Beyond affordability, what’s driving the shift is transparency and design. Customers today want to know the story behind their jewelry - how it’s made, who it impacts and what it stands for. Lab grown diamonds, being ethically created and visually identical to mined ones, perfectly capture this new kind of modern luxury. We’re seeing growing demand from millennials who are open to experimenting with new materials and styles. At the same time, tradition remains central. Consumers want the symbolism and sentiment of gold and diamonds but with a contemporary edge. This blend of heritage and innovation is defining the new wave of jewelry buying in India."