What to Buy on Dhanteras: Brass, Copper, Utensils and Idols
What to buy on Dhanteras besides gold: the brass and copper utensils, kalash, Lakshmi and Kuber idols and diyas the tradition calls for, and what to avoid.
Dhanteras, Friday 6 November 2026, is the day for bringing something new and metallic into the house. Gold and silver if it is in the budget. For everyone else the tradition has always been brass and copper: a lota, a thali, a kalash, a lamp, a Lakshmi idol for the counter. This guide is what to buy, what each purchase is for, and what the custom says to avoid.
Why metal on Dhanteras
Dhanteras marks the appearance of Dhanvantari with the pot of amrit, and the day is linked to Kuber and Lakshmi. Buying a vessel on this day stands for a full vessel in the year ahead. The vessel was always a household one: the old instruction in most families is “koi bartan le aao”, bring home a utensil, and the utensil was brass or copper because those were the kitchen metals.
What to buy, by purpose
| Buy | Used for | Pick |
|---|---|---|
| Kalash or lota | Lakshmi puja on Diwali two days later; daily puja after | Brass kalash with lid, or copper lota 400 to 800 ml |
| Thali | Diwali aarti, then daily puja or the dinner table | Brass thali 8 to 12 inch, engraved hides scratches |
| Lakshmi or Laxmi Ganesh idol | The Diwali puja, then the mandir or the shop counter | Brass, 3 to 6 inch, weight over 300 g |
| Kuber deepak | Lit on Dhanteras night and through Diwali | Deep cup, 100 ml or more, for an all-night burn |
| Diyas | Dhanteras, Diwali, every puja after | Set of 2 for the door in brass, clay for the sills |
| Glasses or a jug | Kitchen | Brass or copper set of 4 or 6 |
| Kadhai or handi | Kitchen | Brass with kalai (tin lining), 1.5 to 3 litre |
| Coins | Placed before Lakshmi | Silver if possible; a brass Lakshmi coin is the common substitute |
For the shop or office
Business households buy for the counter: a Laxmi Ganesh pair on one base, a Kuber idol, a brass bell for the door, and new account books. A brass nameplate or a small Ganesh for the cash drawer is a common Dhanteras purchase in Moradabad itself.
Gifting on Dhanteras
If you are giving rather than buying for yourself, the useful gifts are the ones that get used: a glass set, a thali, a lota with a lid, a pair of diyas in a box. A Lakshmi idol is given to a new home or a new business. Sweets go with the gift, not instead of it.
What the custom says to avoid
- Iron and steel as the main purchase. Many families avoid buying iron on Dhanteras; stainless steel is tolerated by some, avoided by others. Brass and copper are safe for everyone.
- Black objects and sharp things like knives and scissors.
- Empty vessels brought into the house. Put rice, water or a coin in the new lota before it crosses the threshold.
- Plastic as the Dhanteras vessel. It is not a metal, which is the point of the day.
Timing
The muhurat for Dhanteras purchases runs through the day; the puja and the Yama deepam are in Pradosh Kaal, around 5:30 to 7:30 pm. Buy earlier in the day. If you are ordering online, order by 3 November for metro cities and by 1 November for the rest of India so the parcel is home before the 6th.
