Akshaya Tritiya Puja Vidhi (अक्षय तृतीया पूजा विधि)
Akshaya Tritiya puja: Lakshmi-Vishnu worship, charity, barley and sattu, traditions, the belief about buying, and starting new work.
When to do it
- On Vaishakha Shukla Tritiya
- Puja in the morning or daytime; the whole day is considered auspicious
Puja materials checklist
Puja method (step by step)
Bath and purification
Bathe and wear clean, preferably freshly washed clothes. Keep the mind calm and put your phone away.
Prepare the place
Clean the place of worship. East or north-east is considered best. Spread a clean cloth on a low wooden seat (chowki) and install the idol or picture.
Lamp and achaman
Light the lamp and incense. Take water in the right palm and sip it three times (achaman).
Sankalp (resolve)
Holding water, rice grains (akshat) and a flower in your hand, say silently your name, gotra (if known) and the purpose of the puja, then pour the water on the ground. A resolve in simple language is also valid.
Ganesh vandana
Remembering Ganesha before any puja is considered auspicious in tradition.
Install Vishnu-Lakshmi
Place a picture of Lakshmi-Vishnu on the seat.
Worship
Offer sandalwood, akshat, tulsi and flowers. Barley and akshat are considered especially important.
Bhog
Offer sattu, jaggery, seasonal fruit and sweets.
Charity
Donate cold water, a fan, an umbrella, slippers, grain or clothes.
Aarti
Perform aarti with a ghee lamp. Let all family members stand together, and take the aarti at the end.
Prayer for forgiveness
Ask humbly for forgiveness for any mistake made during the puja.
Prasad and closing
Share the prasad with everyone and take some yourself. Take the blessings of elders. Immerse flowers and other puja materials in flowing water or under a tree, rather than throwing them in the trash.
Mantras
✔ Do
- Bathe and wear clean clothes before the puja
- Sit with a calm mind and faith
- Keep the bhog clean and prepared at home
- Share the prasad with everyone after the puja
- Give charity according to your means
- Do the puja before starting new work
✘ Do not
- Do not get distracted by your phone or conversation during the puja
- Avoid anger, gossip and harsh speech
- Do not offer stale or impure flowers and bhog
- Do not place the idol or picture directly on the floor
- Do not buy things or gold on loan
- Do not show off
Common mistakes
- Treating only buying gold as the puja on this day; charity and service are part of it too
- Wrong information about the tithi; check the panchang
Auspicious muhurat
Check the start and end of the Akshaya Tritiya tithi in the panchang. Tradition regards the whole day as auspicious, like an abujh muhurat.
Related aarti, katha and mantra
Frequently asked questions
What does Akshaya Tritiya mean?
Is buying gold necessary?
What should be donated on Akshaya Tritiya?
What auspicious works are done on Akshaya Tritiya?
What about Akshaya Tritiya and Parashurama Jayanti?
Other puja vidhis
Note: puja methods vary by family, region and sect. The method given here is a simple, general form. Give priority to your family tradition or your pandit’s guidance.