Celebrated by the Hindus and Jains as an annual spring time festival in India and Nepal, Akshaya Tritiya is named after the third lunar day of the spring month of Vaisakha in the Hindu calendar. In the Gregorian calendar, it falls every year in the month of April or May and is auspicious from start to finish.

As per the Hindu mythology, this day of Akshaya Tritiya marks the beginning of the Treta Yuga. It is referred as Parasurama Jayanti since it also celebrates the birthday of Parasurama, the sixth incarnation Vishnu who the Hindus consider as the preserver of the Universe.

Another significant event that is believed to have occurred on this day is that the Ganga river descended on the earth at the behest of King Bhagiratha to help his ancestors attain Moksha. Devotees believe that it was on this day that Ved Vyasa narrated the Mahabharata to Ganesha while two other stories are realted to Krishna.

According to one, Krishna presented Akshaya Patra in famine to Draupadi as it was an invincible magical bowl called Akshaya Patram that would forever be full with food of the Pandava’s choice. Another legend has it that it was on this day that Sudama visited his childhood friend, Krishna, in Dwarka and received unlimited wealth.

Celebrations

• prayers for ancestors
• Fasting
• Charity
• buy gold for good luck