Akshaya Navami is the festival ascribed to the commencement day of Sathya Yuga. It occurs on the Shukla Paksha Navami of the Karthika month as per Purnimantha Calendar. The festival is observed two days prior to Dev Uthani Ekadashi.
For the Year 2023, Akshaya Navami occurs on Tuesday, 21st November 2023. The exact duration of the Navami Tithi has to be ascertained from the respective regional calendars.
Legend
Akshaya Navami is considered auspicious for making donations and for doing various virtuous activities. The festival is also called as Sathya Yugadi. In some regions, Akshaya Navami is celebrated as Amla Navami. Amla tree is considered as the abode of Gods and Goddesses. On this day, Amla tree is worshipped.
The festival is also called as Jagadhathri Puja in the Eastern India especially Bengal. On this day Devi Matha Satta is worshipped as Sri Jagadhathri. “Jagadhathri” means “mother of the universe”.
It is believed that doing the perambulation or parikrama of Mathura and Vrindavan on this day shall result in the blessing and bestowing of virtuous betterment.
The day is also observed as Kushmanda Navami as it is believed that Bhagwan Sri Maha Vishnu had diminished the demon Kushmanda on this day to protect the world.
Rituals
The devotees wake up before sun-rise and take holy bath in the rivers or the available water bodies. Mostly Puja is done at the banks of the water bodies. Those having no access to water bodies do the Puja at home. The Puja place is cleaned and decorated with fresh flowers.
The devotees draw thirty squares on the Puja floor with turmeric powder. The squares are filled up with grains, pulses and food items. The squares are called as Kothas.
The devotees then chant Slokas and Prayers to the Almighty. It is believed that sincere prayer on this day shall ensure good stock of food grains and rich harvest. Some women devotees resort to complete fasting from dawn to dusk as part of the ritual. Amla tree also is worshipped.
For the whole day bhajans, keertans and prayer songs are recited with sincere devotion. It is believed that ardent observation of Akshaya Navami shall result in alleviation of all past and current sins and attainment of salvation.
Making donation of cash, food and clothes to the needy and the poor on this day is considered auspicious.
