Akshaya Tritiya 2026 Date – 19 April

What 'akshaya' means

Akshaya means 'that which never diminishes'. Akshaya Tritiya falls on Tritiya, the third lunar day of the bright fortnight of Vaishakha, and it is believed that good deeds, charity, prayer and investments begun on this day keep growing. It is one of the sade teen muhurat – the three and a half days of the year considered so auspicious that no separate muhurat needs to be fixed.

Stories linked to the day

• The birth of Parashurama, the warrior-sage avatar of Vishnu.
• In the Mahabharata, the exiled Pandavas received the Akshaya Patra, a vessel that never ran out of food, from the Sun god.
• Sudama visited his childhood friend Krishna with a small bundle of beaten rice, and returned to find his poverty gone.
• Many traditions count it as the start of the Treta Yuga, and as the day the Ganga descended to earth.

Temples and pilgrimages

• Puri, Odisha – construction of the chariots for the Rath Yatra begins, and the Chandan Yatra festival starts.
• Gangotri and Yamunotri – the Himalayan shrines traditionally reopen for the season around this day, starting the Char Dham yatra.
• Vrindavan – the feet of Banke Bihari are uncovered for darshan, which happens only on this day of the year.
• Odisha – farmers begin sowing for the new season (Akhi Muthi Anukula).

Gold, weddings and charity

Buying gold or silver on Akshaya Tritiya is believed to bring lasting prosperity, and jewellers see their busiest day after Dhanteras. In Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, Akha Teej is a major wedding day. Charity is just as central: because the day falls in peak summer, giving water-filled earthen pots (matka), fans, umbrellas, sandals, grain, sattu and fruit is considered especially meritorious.

If you are buying gold as an investment, compare prices and making charges; the festival does not change the metal's value.

Akshaya Tritiya puja samagri (what you need)

• Picture or idol of Lakshmi and Vishnu (or Lakshmi-Narayan)
• Yellow cloth and yellow flowers
• Tulsi leaves
• Chandan and akshat
• Barley or wheat grains
• Chana dal and jaggery
• Kheer or a sweet made at home
• A water-filled earthen pot (kalash) for donation
• Gold or silver coin, if buying one
• Diya and incense

How to do Akshaya Tritiya puja, step by step

1. Bathe early; many people take a holy dip or add Gangajal to their bath.
2. Place Lakshmi and Vishnu on a yellow cloth and light a diya.
3. Offer chandan, akshat, yellow flowers and tulsi leaves.
4. Offer barley or wheat, chana dal with jaggery and kheer as naivedya.
5. Place any newly bought gold or silver before the deities for blessings.
6. Perform aarti and donate a water pot, grain or other items to someone in need.