Akshaya Tritiya is the third day of the bright fortnight of the lunar month of Vaisakha, which falls in Medam. Akshaya means that which does not diminish. In Kerala, where gold is saved for a daughter's wedding from the day she is born, it has become the largest gold-buying day of the year, with jewellers open from dawn. Temples keep the older sense of the day, as one for giving.
The story
Kerala has its own story for the day. The boy Shankara of Kalady, on his round for alms, came to the house of a woman so poor that she had only one dried gooseberry to give. Moved, he composed the Kanakadhara Stotram on the spot, and Lakshmi rained golden gooseberries on the house. The house, Swarnathu Mana, still stands.
The day is also kept as the birthday of Parashurama, who in legend raised the land of Kerala from the sea by throwing his axe.
How it is kept
- GoldEven a single coin or a gram is bought.
- AnnadanamFood is given away, and offerings made to ancestors.
- KanakadharaThe hymn is recited before Lakshmi.
- Temple visitsTo Vishnu, Lakshmi and Parashurama.
Why this date
Akshaya Tritiya is the Tritiya of the bright fortnight of Vaisakha, on the day it is present at midday.
Akshaya Tritiya in other years
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Sunday | |
| 2027 | Saturday | |
| 2028 | Thursday | |
| 2029 | Wednesday | |
| 2030 | Sunday | |
| 2031 | Thursday |
More Kerala festivals
15 AprilVishuവിഷു
17 AprilThrissur Pooramതൃശ്ശൂർ പൂരം
15 AprilSri Rama Navamiശ്രീരാമനവമി
14 JulySayana Ekadasiശയന ഏകാദശി
18 JulyGuru Purnimaഗുരുപൂർണ്ണിമ
18 AugustChingam 1ചിങ്ങം ഒന്ന്
Where to see Akshaya Tritiya
In Kerala
- KaladyKeralaBirthplace of Adi Shankara, on the Periyar, where the Kanakadhara story is set.
- Thiruvallam Parasurama TempleKeralaOne of very few temples to Parashurama, near Thiruvananthapuram.
- Guruvayur TempleKeralaAmong the busiest days of the year at the temple.
Across India
- SimhachalamAndhra PradeshThe sandal covering of Narasimha is removed for this one day.
- PuriOdishaThe building of the Rath Yatra chariots begins.
- KumbakonamTamil NaduTwelve Vishnu temples bring their deities out on Garuda.