Akshaya Tritiya, the third day of the bright fortnight of Baisakha, is the farmer's new year in Odisha. On this morning, in new clothes, he carries seed to the field in a new basket and sows the first handful: Akhi Muthi Anukula. At Puri, on the Grand Road, carpenters begin building the three chariots for the Ratha Jatra, and the Chandana Jatra opens on the Narendra tank.
The story
The logs for the chariots have been arriving from the forests of Dasapalla since Basanta Panchami. On Akshaya Tritiya garlands from the deities are brought out to the workshop in front of the palace, and the first cut is made. More than two hundred hereditary craftsmen will finish all three in fifty-eight days, without a drawing.
For forty-two days from today the gods are cooled against the summer: their representative images are rowed on the tank in decorated boats each evening.
How it is kept
- Akhi Muthi AnukulaThe ceremonial sowing, with an offering to Lakshmi in the field.
- Ratha AnukulaWork on the chariots begins.
- Chandana JatraThe boat festival of the gods, smeared with sandal paste.
- New venturesHouses are begun and gold bought.
Why this date
Akshaya Tritiya is the Tritiya of the bright fortnight of Baisakha, 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 Odia festivals
14 AprilPana Sankrantiପଣା ସଂକ୍ରାନ୍ତି
15 JuneRajaରଜ
5 JulyRatha Jatraରଥଯାତ୍ରା
20 AprilHanuman Jayantiହନୁମାନ ଜୟନ୍ତୀ
15 AprilRama Navamiରାମ ନବମୀ
14 JulyHari Sayana Ekadasiହରି ଶୟନ ଏକାଦଶୀ
Where to see Akshaya Tritiya
In Odisha
- Bada Danda, PuriOdishaThe Grand Road, where the chariots take shape in the open over two months.
- Narendra Tank, PuriOdishaThe gods' evening boat rides during Chandana Jatra.
- Bindusagar, BhubaneswarOdishaLingaraj's own Chandana Jatra on the temple tank.
Across India
- SimhachalamAndhra PradeshNarasimha is seen without his sandal paste for a single day.
- Gangotri and YamunotriUttarakhandThe Himalayan shrines open for the year.
- VrindavanUttar PradeshThe feet of Banke Bihari are shown on this day alone.