Akshaya Navami, also called Amla Navami, falls on Wednesday, November 18, 2026. It is observed on the Navami (ninth day) of the Shukla Paksha in the month of Kartik, two days before Dev Uthani Ekadashi. The word “akshaya” means something that never decays, and the day is linked with charity and good deeds whose merit is believed to last.
Here are the date, tithi timings, the puja muhurat and the main customs, based on Drik Panchang.
Akshaya Navami 2026 date and muhurat
- Date: Wednesday, November 18, 2026
- Navami tithi begins: 6:04 AM on November 18
- Navami tithi ends: 7:05 AM on November 19
- Purvahna (morning) puja muhurat: 6:46 AM to 12:06 PM, a window of 5 hours 20 minutes
These timings are calculated for New Delhi. Sunrise and muhurat times shift by a few minutes from city to city, so families in other places should check a local panchang or ask their family priest.
Why the day is called Akshaya Navami
According to tradition, Satya Yuga, the first and most righteous of the four yugas, began on this day. For that reason it is also known as Satya Yugadi. Because of this link with the start of an age, any daan (charity), prayer or good deed done on Akshaya Navami is believed to bring akshaya punya, merit that does not run out.
The day sits in the middle of a busy festive stretch. Gopashtami comes the day before, and Dev Uthani Ekadashi, which marks the end of Chaturmas and the start of the wedding season, follows two days later.
Why the amla tree is worshipped
The more popular name, Amla Navami, comes from the custom of worshipping the amla (Indian gooseberry) tree. In many homes, especially in north and central India, the amla tree is seen as dear to Lord Vishnu. Families visit a tree in a temple compound, garden or park, or keep an amla branch at home if no tree is nearby.
Common practices include:
- Cleaning the area around the tree and offering water and milk at its roots
- Applying haldi and kumkum, and tying a sacred thread (kalava) around the trunk
- Walking around the tree in parikrama, often seven times or more
- Lighting a diya and offering flowers, sweets and fruit
- Sitting under the tree to cook or eat a meal with the family, a practice many households follow on this day
Daan and good deeds
Charity is at the heart of Akshaya Navami. People donate food, clothes, blankets, grains or money according to their means. With winter setting in, giving warm clothes or blankets to those who need them is a practical choice. Some families feed cows or donate to a gaushala, since the day comes right after Gopashtami.
The idea is that even a small act of kindness done today carries lasting value. It does not need to be costly.
Mathura-Vrindavan parikrama
In the Braj region, many devotees perform a parikrama (circumambulation) of Mathura and Vrindavan on Akshaya Navami. Large crowds walk the route through the day. Anyone planning to join should start early, carry water and wear comfortable shoes, as the walk is long and the paths get crowded.
Jagaddhatri Puja in Bengal
In West Bengal, the same day is celebrated as Jagaddhatri Puja, dedicated to Goddess Jagaddhatri, a form of Durga. Chandannagar and Krishnanagar are famous for their grand pandals and lighting during this festival.
A simple way to observe Akshaya Navami at home
- Wake early, bathe and wear clean clothes.
- Do the puja within the morning muhurat, between 6:46 AM and 12:06 PM in Delhi.
- If there is an amla tree nearby, offer water, turmeric, kumkum and a diya there. If not, place an amla fruit or branch near your home shrine.
- Recite prayers to Lord Vishnu, or simply chant his name.
- Set aside something to donate the same day.
- Eat a meal together with family. Some households include amla in the food, such as amla chutney or murabba.
Amla in the winter kitchen
The festival also comes at the right time of year. Amla is in season through the winter months in India, and it is commonly eaten as murabba, pickle, chutney or juice. Many people see the day as a reminder to bring the fruit back into their diet for the season.
Key dates around Akshaya Navami
- November 17: Gopashtami
- November 18: Akshaya Navami / Amla Navami, Jagaddhatri Puja
- November 20: Dev Uthani Ekadashi, two days later
Customs vary from region to region and family to family. Follow the practices of your own tradition and consult your family priest for exact rituals.
Reporting based on Drik Panchang (timings for New Delhi).
Featured image: Yercaud-elango, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
