Akshaya Tritiya – The Most Auspicious Day to Give Charity

Akshaya Tritiya is a highly auspicious Day signaling prosperity. 'Kshaya' means reducing or diminishing, and 'Akshaya' is non-diminishing, never-ending or ever-growing. 'Tritiya' is the third Day; here, it refers to the third lunar Day of the bright fortnight of the Moon, in the month of Vaishaka (April-May). Akshaya Tritiya can thus be regarded as a Day of permanence for the good things in life, like wealth, success, prosperity, and joy.

People also call the occasion Akshaya Teej and celebrate it as a Spring Festival. While this Day remains suitable for auspicious activities and worships like Akshaya Tritiya Puja, it is highly propitious to give charity and help the poor and needy people lead better lives.

In 2024, Akshaya Tritiya falls on Friday, May 10.

Akshaya Tritiya in Legends

Akshaya Tritiya holds tremendous religious and mythological significance, and there are many reasons why people regard it so promising. Here, let us learn about some of them.

Akshaya Tritiya is closely associated with the great epic Mahabharata. It was on this Day that Vyasa started composing his magnum opus. Akshaya Tritiya also owes its very name to Mahabharata. When the evil Kauravas cheated their cousins, the Pandavas, took away their kingdom and banished them to the forests in exile, Surya, the Sun God, blessed their virtuous wife Draupadi with a Divine vessel that could keep providing them with unending food. This amazing vessel was called Akshaya Patra, 'the vessel of unending food.' It was mainly because of this incredible container that the Pandavas could spend their time in exile without any want of food. Tritiya, the third lunar Day when the Pandava queen got this incomparable gift of Akshaya Patra, became the highly auspicious Akshaya Tritiya.    

Legends also consider Akshaya Tritiya to be the Day of advent of Parashurama, the aggressive incarnation of the Supreme Protector Vishnu. Hence, devotees also observe this Day as Parashurama Jayanthi.

According to beliefs, Akshaya Tritiya is also the momentous occasion when Ganga, the holiest of the holy rivers, descended from heaven on earth to wash away the sins of human beings. Hence, people take a bath in the Ganges on Akshaya Tritiya and pray to Mother Ganga.

Hence, people offer worship to divinities like the Wealth Goddess Lakshmi, his consort Vishnu, Parashurama, Krishna, and Ganga Mata on this occasion and perform Akshaya Tritiya Puja seeking Divine blessings for their welfare.

Akshaya Tritiya, the Day for Charity

Akshaya Tritiya is regarded as highly auspicious for making donations to others and doing charity.  

This belief can be associated with an important happening in Krishna's life. Sudama (Kuchela) was a classmate and childhood friend of Krishna. While Krishna accomplished great things in life and rose to become the ruler of Dwaraka, Sudama fell into poverty and led a miserable existence. Prompted by his wife, he came to see Krishna one Day with a humble gift of rice flakes and offered them to Krishna with great love. The kind gesture of Sudama deeply touched Krishna, who relished the simple offering and, in return, blessed him immediately with tremendous riches and prosperity. This miracle happened on Akshaya Tritiya when Sudama's poverty turned into affluence overnight, thanks to Krishna's blessings.    

So, people believe anything donated with love and affection on this Day pleases the Divine immensely and bestows his abundant grace as plenty and prosperity.  

People can donate in cash or in-kind on this Day. They can give money, or a portion of their income, directly to the poor and needy people or to reputed charitable organizations, who work for the poor, elderly, or sick people. They can also donate food, edible things, clothes, and other utility items. These kind acts, especially on the auspicious Akshaya Tritiya, are sure to bestow them with many blessings in life.

Celebrating Akshaya Tritiya

People celebrate the occasion with worships like Akshaya Tritiya Puja, religious observances, and fasting. Some make new beginnings in their lives by launching business ventures and also celebrate auspicious functions in the family. Many have made it a practice to buy gold jewels and other precious items on Akshaya Tritiya, as they believe it can help in their ever-growing wealth.  

Helping others through charitable acts and Divine worship on Akshaya Tritiya can earn the grace of the almighty for the devotees and bless them with wealth, good health, prosperity, welfare, and joy.