Akshayya Tritiya is the third day of the bright half of Vaishakh, and one of the sade-teen muhurta, the three and a half days of the Marathi year on which anything may be begun without looking for an auspicious hour. A clay pot of cool water is given away in the name of the ancestors. And by old custom the mango season opens today: aamras is made for the first time.
The story
The three and a half days are Gudi Padwa, Akshayya Tritiya, Dasara, and the half, Diwali Padwa. What is done on them is held to be akshayya, undiminishing.
It is the birthday of Parshuram, who in the story threw his axe into the sea and raised the Konkan coast from it; his temple stands near Chiplun. It is also the last day of Chaitra Gauri, when the goddess who has been a guest on her swing for a month is sent home.
How it is kept
- The water potAn earthen pot of water with a mango, a fan and soaked gram is given to a Brahmin or the needy for the ancestors.
- AamrasMango pulp with puri; many families do not eat mango before this day.
- GoldA little is bought, as elsewhere.
- SowingFarmers ready the fields and worship the seed for the kharif season.
Why this date
Akshayya Tritiya is the Tritiya of the bright half of Vaishakh, on the day it is present at midday.
Akshaya Tritiya in other years
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Wednesday | |
| 2026 | Sunday | |
| 2027 | Saturday | |
| 2028 | Thursday | |
| 2029 | Wednesday | |
| 2030 | Sunday |
More Marathi festivals
2 AprilHanuman Jayantiहनुमान जयंती
26 MarchRam Navamiश्रीराम नवमी
25 JulyAshadhi Ekadashiआषाढी एकादशी
29 JulyGuru Purnimaगुरुपौर्णिमा
19 MarchGudi Padwaगुढीपाडवा
28 AugustNarali Purnima and Raksha Bandhanनारळी पौर्णिमा · रक्षाबंधन
Where to see Akshaya Tritiya
In Maharashtra
- Parshuram Temple, ChiplunMaharashtraThe chief temple of Parshuram in the Konkan he is said to have created.
- Mahalakshmi Temple, KolhapurMaharashtraThe goddess of wealth in her oldest Maharashtrian seat.
- Zaveri Bazaar, MumbaiMaharashtraThe city's old gold market, at its busiest of the year.
Across India
- PuriOdishaWork begins on the Rath Yatra chariots.
- Gangotri and YamunotriUttarakhandThe Himalayan shrines open for the summer.
- SimhachalamAndhra PradeshNarasimha is seen without his covering of sandal paste.