India's total trade on Dhanteras — observed on Friday, 6 November 2026 — is projected to surpass ₹1 lakh crore, with gold and silver sales alone expected to exceed ₹60,000 crore, according to the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT). The projection holds even as elevated bullion prices continue to test consumer budgets across the country.

Festive Buying Sentiment Stays Strong

CAIT noted that buying sentiment has remained resilient, with consumers continuing to follow traditions associated with Dhanteras, widely regarded as one of the most significant shopping days of the Diwali season. The body added that it would release granular, nationwide sales estimates later in the day after collating data from trade associations and monitoring consumer response across markets.

The All India Jewellers and Goldsmith Federation (AIJGF) corroborated the upbeat outlook, saying demand has held firm despite high gold and silver prices. Buyers, the AIJGF noted, are increasingly shifting to lightweight jewellery and traditional investment products as a way of maintaining purchase volumes without stretching household budgets.

What Consumers Are Buying

According to traders, 14-carat and 18-carat lightweight gold jewellery are among the top-selling items this season. Silver coins, decorative articles, and auspicious figurines — including fish, tortoise, and elephant motifs — are also witnessing brisk demand across retail markets in both urban and semi-urban centres.

The Bigger Festive Trade Picture

The Dhanteras projection is part of a broader festive trade surge. CAIT had earlier estimated that India's overall trade during the Navratri-to-Diwali window would cross ₹7 lakh crore in 2026, reflecting projected growth of 15–18% over the previous year. For context, festive trade in the prior year stood at approximately ₹6.05 lakh crore — comprising roughly ₹5.40 lakh crore from goods and about ₹65,000 crore from services.

The services component is expected to grow further this year. CAIT projected the services sector — covering transportation, logistics, hospitality, tourism, catering, and event management — could generate between ₹80,000 crore and ₹1 lakh crore during the current festive period.

Drivers Behind the Growth

CAIT attributed the anticipated uptick partly to rising consumer preference for domestically manufactured products and growing traction behind campaigns such as 'Vocal for Local', 'Made in India', and 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat'. Its projections drew on inputs from trade associations across multiple states and tracked activity in rural and semi-urban markets — segments that have shown stronger recovery in recent festive cycles. This comes amid a broader trend of rural consumption playing an increasingly decisive role in India's festive retail numbers.

What to Watch

CAIT's final tally for Dhanteras day trading, to be released later on Friday, will serve as an early indicator of whether the full festive season meets its ₹7 lakh crore target. With Diwali immediately following, the trajectory of gold prices and consumer credit appetite over the weekend will be closely watched by both traders and analysts.