Quick answer: Akshaya Navami 2026, also called Amla Navami, falls on Wednesday 18 November 2026 in India, on Kartika Shukla Navami. Devotees worship the amla (Indian gooseberry) tree, share a meal under it and give charity. 'Akshaya' means 'never decreasing', and the merit of good deeds on this day is believed to last forever.

This guide has been restored at its original hindutone.com address. Dates and times below are from Drik Panchang for New Delhi. Outside India the date can differ by a day, so check Drik Panchang for your own city.

Akshaya Navami 2026 date and tithi

In New Delhi the Ashtami tithi ends at 06:04 AM IST on 18 November, before sunrise, and the Navami tithi then runs until 07:05 AM IST on 19 November. So Navami is current at sunrise on Wednesday 18 November, which is the day of Akshaya Navami.

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Detail (New Delhi, IST)2026
Akshaya Navami / Amla NavamiWednesday 18 November 2026
TithiKartika Shukla Navami, up to 07:05 AM on 19 November
Sunrise / sunset06:46 AM / 05:26 PM
Also on this dayJagaddhatri Puja, Sata Yuga Diwas
Day beforeGopashtami, Tuesday 17 November 2026

Source: Drik Panchang, New Delhi. We do not list muhurat clock times. For local timings, check Drik Panchang for your city.

Meaning of Akshaya Navami

'Akshaya' means imperishable or never decreasing. The same word gives Akshaya Tritiya its name. On Akshaya Navami, people believe that prayer, fasting, charity and kind acts give lasting merit. This is why many families choose this day to donate food, clothes or money, or to begin something good.

The day falls in the holy month of Kartika, a month devoted to Vishnu and Shiva, filled with lamps, holy baths and prayer. For more on this month, see our Karthika Masam 2026 guide.

The Satya Yuga story, as commonly told

Hindu tradition describes four ages, or yugas: Satya, Treta, Dvapara and Kali. Satya Yuga is the age of truth, when dharma was complete. As commonly told, Satya Yuga began on Kartika Shukla Navami. Drik Panchang lists this day as Sata Yuga Diwas. Because of this, the day is seen as a fresh start, when even a small good deed is very meaningful.

Why the amla tree is worshipped

The amla, or Indian gooseberry, is a sacred tree in Hindu tradition and its fruit is valued in Ayurveda. As commonly told, Lord Vishnu dwells in the amla tree during the month of Kartika. Another popular story says that Goddess Lakshmi wished to worship Vishnu and Shiva together. She saw that the amla tree had qualities dear to both, worshipped them in the form of the tree, and then ate a meal beneath it. Families follow this by worshipping the tree and eating under it. Tellings differ in detail.

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In Telugu homes the custom of a Kartika meal under the amla tree is known as Vana Bhojanalu; see our Karthika Vana Bhojanalu 2026 guide.

Amla Navami puja vidhi

Customs differ between regions and families. A simple, widely followed method:

  1. Bathe early and wear clean clothes. Many women keep a fast or eat simple food until the puja is done.
  2. Go to an amla tree in a garden, temple or park. Clean the area around the trunk.
  3. Offer water and a little raw milk at the root of the tree. Apply turmeric and kumkum to the trunk.
  4. Offer flowers, akshata (rice), incense and a lamp. Many devotees tie a raw cotton thread or sacred thread around the trunk while walking around it.
  5. Walk around the tree with devotion, often 7 or 108 times according to family custom.
  6. Pray to Vishnu for the health and wellbeing of the family. Chant 'Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya' or a Vishnu prayer your family knows.
  7. Cook or bring a simple, pure meal and eat it with family under the tree. Offer food first to a guest, a priest or a person in need where possible.
  8. Give charity: food, warm clothes, amla fruits or money, according to your means.

Mathura-Vrindavan and Jagaddhatri Puja

In the Braj region, Akshaya Navami is known for parikrama, the walking circuit around a holy town. Many devotees walk around Mathura on this day as a pilgrimage. Large crowds join in, so pilgrims should follow local guidance on routes and safety.

In parts of West Bengal the same day is Jagaddhatri Puja, when the goddess Jagaddhatri, a form of Durga, is worshipped. Chandannagar and Krishnanagar are especially well known for this festival.

Akshaya Navami for NRI families

  • Check your local date: Use Drik Panchang for your city. Do not convert India's times.
  • No amla tree nearby? Place amla fruits (fresh, frozen or dried, often found in Indian grocery shops) before a picture of Vishnu, offer a lamp and pray. Some families worship a tulsi plant or any healthy tree in the garden with the same devotion.
  • Family meal: Share a simple vegetarian meal together, outdoors if the weather allows, or at home near the shrine.
  • Charity: Donate to a food bank, a temple kitchen or a trusted cause in India. This fits the 'akshaya' spirit of lasting merit.
  • Teach children: Explain the four yugas and why kindness on this day is said to last forever. Let children offer the amla fruit.

Frequently asked questions

When is Akshaya Navami 2026?

Akshaya Navami 2026 (Amla Navami) is on Wednesday 18 November 2026 in India, per Drik Panchang for New Delhi. It falls on Kartika Shukla Navami.

Why is it called Akshaya Navami?

'Akshaya' means 'that which never decreases'. It is believed that good deeds, prayers and charity done on this day bring merit that does not diminish. 'Navami' is the ninth lunar day.

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Why is the amla tree worshipped on this day?

As commonly told, Lord Vishnu is believed to dwell in the amla (Indian gooseberry) tree during Kartika. Devotees worship the tree, walk around it and eat a meal in its shade as a form of prayer and family togetherness.

As commonly told, Satya Yuga, the first and purest of the four ages, began on this day. Drik Panchang lists the day as Sata Yuga Diwas. This is why the day is treated as especially auspicious for good deeds.

Is Jagaddhatri Puja on the same day?

Yes. Drik Panchang lists Jagaddhatri Puja on Wednesday 18 November 2026 as well. It is a major goddess festival in parts of West Bengal.

Is the date the same outside India?

Not always. The date abroad can differ by a day from India. Check Drik Panchang for your city.

Editor's note

Editor's note (6 October 2026): This guide has been restored at its original address after the earlier version was lost. The date, tithi end times and sunrise and sunset times are from Drik Panchang for New Delhi and are given in IST only. We have not listed muhurat clock times, events or venues. The Satya Yuga and amla tree stories are presented as commonly told, and customs vary by region. Readers outside India should check Drik Panchang for their city.