Buying gold for Deepavali 2026: a Singapore guide
, 4 min read
Deepavali falls on Sunday 8 November 2026. For many families in Singapore, the weeks before it are a time to buy gold: new jewellery to wear on the day, a gift for a daughter or daughter-in-law, or a coin to mark a good year. This guide brings together the dates that matter, a little about why gold is part of the festival, and a checklist to help you buy with confidence.
Key dates for Deepavali 2026 in Singapore
| Date | What is happening |
|---|---|
| From Saturday 3 October | The Little India street light-up begins, with the lights on every night from 7pm to midnight along Serangoon Road |
| Saturday 10 October to Sunday 8 November | The Deepavali Festival Village on Campbell Lane, from 7pm |
| Friday 6 November | Dhanteras |
| Sunday 8 November | Deepavali |
| Monday 9 November | Public holiday, if your rest day falls on 8 November |
The public holiday dates are from the Ministry of Manpower. The light-up and Festival Village are organised by the Little India Shop Owners and Heritage Association (LISHA); check deepavali.sg for the latest details before you go.
Why gold at Deepavali?
Deepavali is the festival of lights, and customs vary between communities and families. In the Tamil tradition, which many Singapore families follow, it marks Krishna's victory over the demon Narakasura. The day begins with an oil bath before sunrise, followed by new clothes and visits to family and friends. Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and good fortune, is welcomed into clean, brightly lit homes.
In many North Indian traditions, the main celebration is Lakshmi Puja, and buying gold at this time is seen as inviting Lakshmi into the home. For many families, new gold at Deepavali is a way of welcoming prosperity, and of marking the festival with something that lasts.
For more on the occasions when gold matters, from weddings to Akshaya Tritiya, read gold in Indian traditions, as celebrated in Singapore.
Dhanteras: Friday 6 November
Dhanteras falls two days before Deepavali this year. It is considered an especially auspicious day to buy gold, silver and other valuables, a custom most widely observed in North and West India.
Some families like to buy at an auspicious time (muhurat) on the day. If you do, check a panchang calculated for Singapore, since the timings differ from those in India.
Planning your Deepavali gold
A little planning makes the visit easier and helps your budget go further:
- Set a budget and check the rate. Jewellery is priced from the day's gold rate, so the same piece costs a little more or less from week to week. We publish our 916 rate every day on today's gold rate.
- Put your old gold to work. A broken chain or an earring missing its pair can go towards something new at the day's trade-in rate. See gold trade-in, or read selling or trading in old gold.
- Talk to us early about anything made to order. If you would like an old piece redesigned, come in well before the festival so there is time to agree the design, the gold involved and the making charge. See custom and redesign.
- Think about who it is for. Jhumkas and slim bangles make lovely gifts for daughters, a fine chain or a pendant suits almost anyone, and a 24K gold coin is a simple gift, valued by its weight and purity. For price ideas, see gold necklaces for every budget.
A checklist before you buy
Festive shopping can be busy, so it helps to know what to ask:
- Check the purity stamp. For 22K gold, look for 916 on the piece. 916 or 999? Gold purity explained shows where to find it.
- Ask for the weight in grams. Gold is priced by weight, so it is the fairest way to compare two pieces.
- Ask for an itemised quote. It should show the gold value (the day's rate times the weight), the making charge and GST, currently 9%, as separate lines. See how to check a gold price quote.
- Ask how a chain is made. Solid, hollow and gold-plated chains can look alike but weigh very differently. See why some chains feel light.
- Get the terms in writing. Ask about exchange and buyback before you pay, and keep your receipt; you will need it if you ever sell, exchange or redesign the piece.
At Minora Jewels, every quote is broken down into gold value, making charge and GST before you pay, and the purity and weight are written on your receipt.
Visiting Little India for Deepavali
The street light-up and Festival Village run in the evenings, so Little India is at its liveliest after 7pm, and a walk under the lights is part of the fun. If you would rather choose your gold at a quieter pace, come earlier in the day and see the lights afterwards.
Minora Jewels is at 142 Dunlop Street, inside Haniffa, a short walk from the lights on Serangoon Road and a few minutes from Little India (NE7, DT12) and Rochor (DT13) MRT stations. We are open every day from 10.30am to 9.30pm, and you can walk in without an appointment. Plan your visit.
Festival and holiday dates are from the Ministry of Manpower and LISHA as of 29 September 2026. Event details can change, so check deepavali.sg before you go.