Quick answer: What to buy on Dhanteras: tradition favours gold, silver, brass or copper utensils, a new broom, whole coriander seeds, diyas and Lakshmi-Ganesh idols. As per Vastu, keep valuables in a south or south-west locker opening north, puja items in the north-east, and utensils in the kitchen. Dhanteras is on Friday, 6 November 2026.
Most Dhanteras lists stop at the shop counter. They tell you what to bring home but not where it should go once you are through the door. This guide covers both. It lists the traditional purchases, the Vastu place for each one, and picks for every budget.
One thing to keep in mind as you read: Dhanteras shopping is a tradition of welcoming prosperity and good health. It is not a test you can fail. A small brass diya bought with care counts as much as a gold coin, and no purchase guarantees wealth.
When is Dhanteras 2026, and when should you buy?
In India, Dhanteras is on Friday, 6 November 2026. Trayodashi tithi begins at about 10:30 AM IST on 6 November and ends at about 10:47 AM IST on 7 November (Drik Panchang; other panchangs differ by a minute or so). Many families shop after the tithi begins, on the Friday afternoon or evening, and light the first diyas after sunset.
Evening puja timings change from city to city, and published times don’t all agree, so we don’t quote one here. Check tithi and choghadiya for your own city in the free VastuIQ Panchang Calculator, or ask your family priest. Outside India, confirm the date locally.
What to buy on Dhanteras, and where to keep it
| What to buy | Why families buy it | Where to keep it as per Vastu |
|---|---|---|
| Gold (coin, jewellery) | Lasting wealth; the classic Dhanteras purchase | Locker against the south or south-west wall, opening north |
| Silver (coin, puja items) | Often stamped with Lakshmi-Ganesh; used in the puja | Puja space until Lakshmi Puja, then the locker |
| Brass or copper utensils | Linked with Lord Dhanvantari, who is said to have appeared carrying a pot of amrit | Kitchen shelves or the puja space, if used for worship |
| New broom (jhadu) | Sweeping out the old; associated with Lakshmi | Out of sight in the west or north-west, lying flat |
| Lakshmi-Ganesh idols | For the Diwali puja on 8 November | North-east puja space on a raised, clean chowki |
| Whole coriander seeds (dhaniya) | A traditional sign of growth | Puja first; then some in the locker or sown in a pot |
| Diyas and puja items | Needed for the five festival days | North-east, or a clean shelf near the puja space |
| Appliances and electronics | A common choice for useful household buys | See the next section; the place depends on the item |
Where to keep gold, silver and other valuables
Vastu links the north with Kubera, the deity of wealth, and the south-west with stability and weight. That is why the usual advice is to place the locker against the south or south-west wall, so that it opens towards the north. Don’t move a heavy safe just for the festival. If yours sits elsewhere, simply keep it clean and tidy and read our guide on why money isn’t staying at home before planning any change.
- Check before paying: look for the BIS hallmark and HUID on gold jewellery, and keep the bill with your documents.
- Coins for worship: wash and wipe them, place them on a clean red or yellow cloth at the puja space, and move them to the locker after Lakshmi Puja.
- Keep it uncluttered: clear old receipts and broken jewellery out of the locker before adding anything new.
Where to keep utensils, the broom and idols
Brass, copper and steel utensils
Many families don’t bring a new vessel home empty. They put in a little water, rice, sugar or sweets, according to their custom, and use it first for the puja. Wash it, then store everyday vessels in the kitchen and keep worship vessels at the puja space. A copper water pot suits the north or north-east. Our Vastu guide for the kitchen covers the wider layout.
The new broom
Lay the broom flat and keep it out of sight, commonly in the west or north-west or in a utility area. Keep it away from the north-east, the puja space and the kitchen, and don’t leave it by the main door in plain view. Many families use the new broom only after the puja, and clear the old one out of the house around the festival.
Lakshmi-Ganesh idols
Choose idols that are whole and unchipped, ideally no taller than 9 inches for a home mandir. As you sit facing them, Ganesha goes on the left and Lakshmi on the right. Place them on a raised chowki at the north-east puja space. Our Vastu guide for the pooja room has the details. Old or broken idols should never go in the dustbin: many families give them to a temple or immerse them respectfully, according to their own tradition.
Bringing new things home? See how the rooms they go into score first. Enter your room directions in the Free Vastu Analyzer and your Vastu score is free. The ₹499 Detailed Report adds a full room-by-room analysis, the 9-zone direction map and all remedies in a 12+ page PDF (the Basic Report is ₹199).
Bigger purchases: appliances, electronics and vehicles
If you have been planning a big purchase anyway, Dhanteras is a popular day to make it. Here is where each one is usually placed.
| Item | Usual Vastu placement | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Refrigerator | South-west or west of the kitchen | North-east, south-east |
| Microwave, OTG, oven | South-east of the kitchen, near the stove | North-east, north |
| Water purifier | North-east or north of the kitchen | South-east |
| Television | South-east or south wall of the living room | The north-east corner |
| Car or two-wheeler | North-west of the plot is a common choice; use the parking you have in a flat | Blocking the main door |
If your kitchen or living room makes these spots impractical, safety and everyday use come first. Don’t run long extension cords or block ventilation to match a direction. Our living room Vastu guide helps with TV and furniture positions.
What not to buy on Dhanteras
These are customs rather than strict rules, and they vary by family and region. Many households skip the following on this one day:
- Knives, scissors and other sharp items
- Iron items (some families treat stainless steel as fine, others prefer brass or copper)
- Glass and fragile items
- Black-coloured items
- Oil and aluminium, in some regions
- Empty vessels, which many families fill with something before bringing them home
If you need one of these, there is nothing to worry about. Simply buy it on another day.
Dhanteras picks for every budget
| Budget | Good choices | A useful thought |
|---|---|---|
| Small | Broom, whole coriander seeds, clay diyas, clay idols | Fully traditional; nothing is missing |
| Medium | Brass diya, copper water pot, silver coin, kitchen vessel | Pick something your family will use every day |
| Large | Gold, appliance, vehicle | Buy only what you had already planned and can afford |
Your Dhanteras buying checklist
- Before Friday: clear the place the item will go, whether that is the locker, a kitchen shelf or the puja space. Our Vastu tips for Diwali checklist covers the rest of the house.
- Decide on one or two items and a budget before you reach the market.
- Check quality: hallmark on gold, whole idols with no chips, sound vessels with no dents.
- Bring it home with care: wash vessels, wipe coins and fill any new vessel if that is your custom.
- Offer it in the puja on Dhanteras evening or at Lakshmi Puja on Sunday, 8 November 2026.
- Put it in its place using the table above, so it doesn’t stay in a shopping bag.
Dhanteras shopping do’s and don’ts
| Do | Don’t |
|---|---|
| Plan one or two meaningful purchases | Borrow or overspend for the festival |
| Make space before you bring anything home | Pile new items in the north-east |
| Keep bills with your documents | Leave valuables out in the open at the puja space overnight |
| Keep diyas on stable plates, away from fabric | Leave diyas burning in an empty room |
| Check your own city’s tithi and choghadiya | Copy a time from another city |
Frequently asked questions
What is the most auspicious thing to buy on Dhanteras?
Gold, silver and brass or copper utensils are the most traditional choices. Tradition does not rank one above the others, and a silver coin, a brass diya or a new broom carries the same festive meaning as a large purchase. Buy what suits your budget and what you will actually use.
What should not be bought on Dhanteras?
Many families avoid knives, scissors and other sharp items, iron items, glass, black items, and in some regions oil and aluminium. These are customs that vary by family and region, not fixed rules. If you need one of these items, you can simply buy it on another day.
Where should gold and silver bought on Dhanteras be kept as per Vastu?
Keep them in a locker or safe against the south or south-west wall, so that it opens towards the north. A silver coin meant for worship can stay at the puja space until Lakshmi Puja on 8 November 2026, and then go into the locker.
Where should a broom bought on Dhanteras be kept?
Keep it out of sight in a utility area, commonly in the west or north-west, and lay it flat rather than standing it upright. Keep it away from the north-east, the puja space and the kitchen, and use it after the puja if that is your family custom.
What is the best time to buy on Dhanteras 2026?
Dhanteras is on Friday, 6 November 2026. Trayodashi tithi begins at about 10:30 AM IST that morning and ends at about 10:47 AM IST on 7 November, according to Drik Panchang. Evening puja timings differ by city, so check tithi and choghadiya for your city in the free VastuIQ Panchang Calculator.
What can I buy on Dhanteras on a small budget?
A new broom, whole coriander seeds, clay diyas, a small clay Lakshmi-Ganesh idol or a small brass item are all traditional and affordable. Tradition does not ask you to spend a certain amount, so there is no need to borrow or stretch your budget for the festival.
Related reading
- Vastu Tips for Diwali 2026: Home Checklist Before Lakshmi Puja
- Vastu for Pooja Room: Direction, Idols and Complete Tips
- Why Is Money Not Staying at Home? The Vastu Reason
- Vastu for Kitchen: Direction, Stove, Sink and Colours
- Vastu for Living Room: Furniture, TV and Sofa Direction
Start this Diwali knowing where your home stands. Run the Free Vastu Analyzer: your score is free. The ₹499 Detailed Report gives a full room-by-room analysis, the 9-zone direction map, all remedies, a buying checklist and a Vastu Assessment Certificate in a 12+ page PDF. The ₹199 Basic Report gives your scores and top 3 remedies.
VastuIQ: Vastu • Astrology • Numerology. Vastu and festival guidance here is traditional and educational, and customs differ between families and regions. No specific result is guaranteed, and this is not financial advice: spend within your means. Dates are for India (IST); always check local timings.
Apply This to Your Own Property
Free AI Vastu analysis — room-by-room scores, geo-adaptive for India, UK, UAE and 40+ countries. Detailed report from ₹199.