Other · Vishnu, Lakshmi, Parashurama
Akshaya Tritiya
The day of the never-diminishing: a spring-time third day regarded as auspicious for new beginnings and giving.
Also known as: Akha Teej, Akti
Date and muhurat
✓ 28.6519°N, 77.2315°E · Asia/Kolkata
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When is it observed?
The third lunar day (Tritiya) of the bright fortnight of the month of Vaishakha, usually in April or May. It is kept on the day the tithi is present during the forenoon.
About Akshaya Tritiya
The word akshaya means that which never decays, and the day is traditionally seen as one on which good deeds, charity and prayer bear lasting fruit. It needs no separate muhurat search, because the whole day is regarded as favourable for starting something new.
Families bathe early, worship Vishnu and Lakshmi, give food, water, grain or clothing to those in need, and often start a new venture, make a purchase or hold a simple ceremony. Gold and silver are bought by many, though the older emphasis was on giving rather than buying.
Significance
Tradition links the day with several beginnings: the birth of Parashurama, the descent of the Ganga in some accounts, and the start of the Treta Yuga (this last is widely cited). Whatever the account, the common thread is that this is a day of origins, and so of fresh starts.
Its social meaning is generosity. Giving a water pot, fan, umbrella, sandals or food at the start of summer is a practical kindness, and the belief that such giving does not run out encourages people to be open-handed.
Observing the day
- 1Rise early, bathe, and put on clean clothes. Many also take a bath in a river or add Ganga water at home.
- 2Set up an image of Vishnu with Lakshmi and light a lamp before it.
- 3Offer tulsi leaves, yellow flowers, sandal paste and incense to Vishnu, and barley or rice that is whole and unbroken.
- 4Chant the Vishnu Sahasranama or a simple mantra such as Om Namo Narayanaya.
- 5Offer sattu, jaggery, fruit, and cooling items such as sherbet or cucumber as bhog.
- 6Give a pot of water, grain, sattu, clothing, a fan or an umbrella to someone in need, as per your means.
- 7Some families keep a day-long fast, or eat only a simple sattvic meal.
- 8Start any new work you had planned, or make a small auspicious purchase if you wish.
The story
One tradition says this is the birthday of Parashurama, the sixth avatar of Vishnu, a sage-warrior who is also counted among the seven immortals. Another says that it marks the start of Treta Yuga, the age in which Rama was born.
A popular tale tells of Sudama, the poor boyhood friend of Krishna, who visited him in Dwarka with a humble gift of flattened rice. Krishna received it lovingly, and Sudama returned to find his home transformed. The story is retold on this day to stress that sincere offering counts for more than the size of the gift.
Jains also observe the day because Rishabhanatha, the first Tirthankara, is said to have ended a long fast that day by accepting sugarcane juice.
What to do
- ✓Give something to a person in need, however small.
- ✓Start the day with a bath and a prayer to Vishnu and Lakshmi.
- ✓Begin a new and honest piece of work or learning.
- ✓Offer water and cooling food to guests and passers-by.
- ✓Buy only what you can comfortably afford.
What to avoid
- ✕Do not take loans or overspend just to buy gold.
- ✕Avoid anger, quarrels and harsh speech.
- ✕Do not turn away anyone who asks for water or food.
- ✕Avoid dishonest dealings on a day meant for lasting good.
Around the country
- North and central India: gold and silver purchases, house-warming and weddings are common, and many start new accounts.
- Odisha: farmers perform the first ploughing and sowing (Akshaya Muan) and the Jagannath chariot-building begins at Puri.
- Rajasthan and Bundelkhand: the day, called Akha Teej, is regarded as a favourable date for weddings.
- Gujarat and Maharashtra: new business ventures begin, and in some Maharashtrian households mangoes are offered in memory of ancestors.
Frequently asked questions
Is buying gold on Akshaya Tritiya compulsory?
No. The older tradition stresses charity, prayer and new beginnings. Buying gold is a later popular custom and is entirely optional.
Do I need a specific muhurat?
The day is traditionally regarded as auspicious throughout, so many do not look for a muhurat. The pujan timing shown on this page is the favoured forenoon window.
Why is the tithi taken in the forenoon?
Because the day is meant for daytime worship and giving, the date is fixed by the day on which Tritiya is present in the forenoon. The dates here are computed for your city on that basis.