Akshaya Tritiya – How to Perform Puja and the Importance of Donation

Meta Description: Akshaya Tritiya is a significant festival in Sanatan tradition. It is believed that donations made on this day bring everlasting benefits. Learn how to perform puja and the importance of giving on Akshaya Tritiya.

Akshaya Tritiya – How to Perform Puja, Importance of Donation

Akshaya Tritiya is one of the most important festivals in the Sanatan tradition. According to the Puranas, donations hold great significance in Kaliyuga. The donations made on Akshaya Tritiya bring eternal merit. The day is considered auspicious for starting any new venture. The scriptures mention that it is highly auspicious to buy new things on this day. Buying gold and silver on Akshaya Tritiya is considered particularly fortunate. It is said that worshiping Goddess Lakshmi on this day grants special divine benefits.

Meaning of Akshaya Tritiya

Akshaya Tritiya means an occasion where the actions performed on this day never diminish or end. Performing any work on this auspicious day is considered very favorable. It is believed that by donating to Brahmins and needy, helpless people on this day, one attains eternal merit.

Importance of Akshaya Tritiya

The religious importance of Akshaya Tritiya is exceptional in many ways. This day is also considered the start of the Yuga cycle. According to the Mahabharata, on this day, Lord Krishna gave Yudhishthira the Akshaya Patra, a vessel from which food never runs out. The food in this vessel could feed all present at once.

As a result, Draupadi used this vessel to feed not only the Pandavas but also those in need. On this day, Goddess Ganga descended to Earth, marking the beginning of the Treta Yuga. Hence, this day is regarded as highly auspicious. The ninth of the ten Mahavidyas, Goddess Matangi, also celebrates her birthday on this day.

When is Akshaya Tritiya?

This year, Akshaya Tritiya will be celebrated on May 10. The auspicious time for Akshya Tritiya will begin at 4:17 AM and end on May 11 at 2:50 AM. The auspicious time for buying on Akshya Tritiya is from 5:33 AM to 12:18 PM on May 10.

How to Perform Akshaya Tritiya Puja

On Akshya Tritiya, wake up early, bathe, and wear clean clothes. If possible, wear red attire. Place a red cloth on a platform and set up idols or photos of Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Vishnu. Apply kumkum and sandalwood paste for tilak. Offer lotus flowers to Goddess Lakshmi and yellow flowers to Lord Vishnu. Perform the puja with the required rituals. Offer kheer and Panchamrit as prasad. Chant the Aarti with devotion. Keeping the auspicious time in mind, buy gold, silver, or other items according to your capacity.

Importance of Donation

The Vedas and Upanishads mention the importance of donation on Akshya Tritiya. According to religious texts, some donations yield results in this life, while others yield results in the next life. The Garuda Purana mentions that donations lead to a long life. The Agni Purana states that donations increase wealth. Donations made on Akshya Tritiya never go in vain.

The Manusmriti mentions the importance of donation:

_Tapah param kritayuge tretaayam jnanamuchyate |
Dwapare yajnam evaahu rdaanam ekam kalau yuge ||

Meaning: In the Satya Yuga, penance was the path to salvation, in the Treta Yuga, knowledge, in Dwapara, yajnas, and in Kaliyuga, donations are the path to human welfare._

Donations to be Made on Akshya Tritiya

On Akshya Tritiya, it is highly virtuous to feed the poor and needy children and provide any kind of support for their education. By participating in donation initiatives such as food, clothing, and education on this auspicious day, one becomes a part of the divine blessings. It is said that donations made on this day lead to eternal merit, and the merit gained never diminishes. On this day, you can also arrange drinking water on the road to assist people.