Dhanteras is one of the most auspicious days in the Hindu calendar the day when homes are lit with lamps, shops overflow with gold and silver buyers, and people welcome Goddess Lakshmi, the harbinger of prosperity.
While buying new items on Dhanteras is believed to attract wealth and good fortune, there’s another side to the story certain things you should avoid buying on this day, as they’re considered inauspicious or bring negative energy.
Here’s what the ancient traditions and modern beliefs say about what not to bring home on Dhanteras 2025.
Iron & Steel Items
Iron and steel are strongly associated with Shani (Saturn), a planet linked to hardship and struggle in Hindu mythology. Buying products made of these metals whether utensils, tools, or even vehicles on Dhanteras is believed to invite obstacles and negativity.
If you’re planning to buy kitchenware or home essentials, opt for brass, silver, or copper instead. These metals are traditionally seen as purer and more auspicious for the festival.
Sharp Objects like Knives or Scissor
Items that “cut” such as knives, scissors, or blades are a big no on Dhanteras. Symbolically, they represent the cutting of relationships, harmony, and prosperity. It’s said that bringing them home on this day could lead to discord or financial losses.
If you must buy them for practical reasons, it’s better to make the purchase a day before or after Dhanteras.
Empty Utensils or Containers
Many people buy new utensils on Dhanteras as it’s considered auspicious but there’s a catch. Buying empty utensils is believed to invite emptiness into your home.
Fill them with something grains, rice, lentils, or water before you pay for them or bring them inside. This small act symbolizes abundance and fullness.
Black-Coloured Items
Black is traditionally considered inauspicious for festive occasions like Dhanteras and Diwali. It’s associated with negativity and is said to absorb rather than radiate energy.
When purchasing clothes, decor, or even vehicles, it’s best to avoid black and instead go for bright colours that reflect positivity. Gold, yellow, red, or white being the most preferred.
Glass or Fragile Items
Glass symbolizes fragility and instability. Many elders believe that bringing fragile glass items on Dhanteras can signify a shaky start to the financial year.
If you want to buy decor or lighting, choose brass diyas or metal lanterns they carry stronger symbolic meaning and last longer too.
Oil or Leather Products
Oil and leather are sometimes associated with impurity in religious contexts. Buying them on Dhanteras is seen as a sign of disrespect to Goddess Lakshmi, who is believed to visit clean, bright, and sacred homes. These items are best purchased after the festive period if needed.
If you’re unsure about what to buy instead, tradition offers a simple answer purchase something that symbolizes purity, wealth, or positivity. Gold and silver coins, brass utensils, diyas, idols of Lakshmi-Ganesha, and even electronic gadgets (in modern times) are seen as lucky buys that invite success and good fortune.
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