Akha Trij, the third day of the bright half of Vaishakh, needs no muhurat: anything may be begun on it. Gujarat's farmers take the plough to the field for the first time in the year. Weddings are held by the hundred. And for the Jains of Gujarat it is the day of Varshitap parna, when those who have fasted on alternate days for a whole year break the fast with sugarcane juice at Palitana.
The story
The first Tirthankara, Rishabhdev, having renounced the world, wandered for a year without food because no one knew how to give alms to a monk. On this day King Shreyans offered him sugarcane juice. The year-long fast kept in his memory ends as his did.
For Hindus the day is the birthday of Parshuram and the day Sudama carried his handful of beaten rice to Krishna at Dwarka.
How it is kept
- Hal jotarvuThe plough and bullocks are worshipped and the first furrow cut.
- Varshitap parnaJain ascetics and laypeople end the year's fast with cane juice, fed to them by their families.
- WeddingsMass marriages are held, with no hour sought.
- GoldBought as wealth that will not diminish.
Why this date
Akha Trij is the Tritiya of the bright half of Vaishakh, on the day it is present at midday.
Akha Trij in other years
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Wednesday | |
| 2026 | Sunday | |
| 2027 | Saturday | |
| 2028 | Thursday | |
| 2029 | Wednesday | |
| 2030 | Sunday |
More Gujarati festivals
2 AprilHanuman Jayantiહનુમાન જયંતી
26 MarchRam Navamiરામ નવમી
25 JulyDevpodhi Agiyarasદેવપોઢી અગિયારસ
29 JulyGuru Purnimaગુરુ પૂર્ણિમા
19 MarchChaitra Navratriચૈત્રી નવરાત્રી
28 AugustRaksha Bandhanરક્ષાબંધન
Where to see Akha Trij
In Gujarat
- Shatrunjaya, PalitanaGujaratThe hill of nearly nine hundred Jain temples, where thousands break the Varshitap.
- DwarkaGujaratSudama's destination; Krishna's temple on the western sea.
- Manek Chowk, AhmedabadGujaratThe old gold and silver market of the city.
Across India
- HastinapurUttar PradeshWhere the first parna took place.
- PuriOdishaWork begins on the Rath Yatra chariots.
- Gangotri and YamunotriUttarakhandThe Himalayan shrines open for the summer.