Chandan Yatra (Akshay Tritiya — Shrinathji Chandan Seva)

Shri Shrinathji (Chandan-anointed Krishna of summer)

Pushti Marg

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Chandan Yatra — Akshay Tritiya marks the start of the 21-day Chandan Seva of Shrinathji at the Nathdwara haveli, lasting until Vaishakh Purnima. Sandalwood paste is applied to the entire anga of Shrinathji daily through this period, cooling the Lord through the height of Mewar summer. The first-of-season mango is offered to Shrinathji on this day, and the haveli moves to the summer seva-rasa with cooling thandai, am-panna, and chilled bhog.

Dates 2026–2027

April 19, 2026May 9, 2027

Mantra

श्री चन्दन-शोभित-गोविन्दाय नमः

Shri Chandana-Shobhita-Govindaaya Namah

Salutations to Govinda adorned with sandal-paste — Shrinathji's Akshay Tritiya summer-svarup, anointed head-to-toe in cooling chandan against the Mewar heat.

How to recite

Apply chandan tilak to the home altar Shrinathji-svarup at sunrise. Offer a fresh mango — Akshay Tritiya is also the first-mango offering day for Shrinathji. Sing the Shringar-rasa padas of Surdas and Kumbhandas describing Krishna's chandan-shringar. Visit Nathdwara if possible — the Akshay Tritiya darshan reveals Shrinathji in full chandan-shringar for the first of the 21-day chandan seva.

Benefits

Akshay Tritiya is the universally auspicious day of inexhaustible merit (akshay = inexhaustible). For the Pushti Marg specifically, this is the day the 21-day chandan seva of Shrinathji begins — sandalwood paste is applied to Shrinathji's anga from this day until Vaishakh Purnima, cooling the Lord through the height of Mewar summer. The chandan that touches Shrinathji's anga becomes the supreme prasadi-chandan of the year. Worship on this day is held to bring inexhaustible Pushti-grace.

✦ Special Note

Akshay Tritiya is also the day Shri Mahaprabhuji established the Anubhava Mantapa-style discourse-seva — though the principal Pushti Marg observance of the day is the chandan-yatra. Dates per the Utsav Tippani published by Nathdwara Mandir Seva Mandal on pushtimarg.net (pushtimarg.net/new-updates/utsav-tippani/).

Foods Allowed

Summer cooling bhog — am-panna (mango), thandai with rose petals and mishriSakhdi with morad and bhopla bharitShrikhand-puri and pohe with shengdanaNaralachi vadi and rabri (chilled)Fresh summer fruits — mango (Akshay Tritiya is the mango-arrival utsav), watermelon, kakdi (cucumber), sitafalTulsi-chandan-charanamrita (water with sandalwood paste from the chandan-anga of Shrinathji)Cold milk with mishri and rose-waterSendha namak for fasting members

Foods to Avoid

Onion, garlic — neverBrinjal — restrictedMeat, fish, eggs, alcoholHot/spicy foods avoided in chandan-seva monthsFood not first offered to Shrinathji

Meal Idea

Cool am-panna and thandai with rose petals and mishri through the day; sakhdi with morad and shrikhand-puri for lunch; chilled rabri with fresh mango and naralachi vadi for the evening Shringar-aarti.

🪔 Aarti

Aarti Kunj Bihari Ki

आरती कुंज बिहारी की, श्री गिरिधर कृष्ण मुरारी की ॥ गले में बैजंती माला, बजावे मुरली मधुर बाला । श्रवण में कुण्डल झलकाला, नंद के आनंद नंदलाला ॥ गगन सम अंग कांति काली, राधिका चमक रही आली । लतन में ठाढ़े बनमाली, भ्रमर सी अलक, कस्तूरी तिलक, चंद्र सी झलक, ललित छवि श्यामा प्यारी की ॥ कनकमय मोर मुकुट बिलसे, देवता दरसन को तरसे । गगन सों सुमन राशि बरसे, बाजे मुरचंग, मधुर मृदंग, ग्वालिन संग, अतुल रति गोप कुमारी की ॥ जहां ते प्रगट भई गंगा, कलुष कली हारिणि श्री गंगा । स्मरण ते होत मोह भंगा, बसी शिव सीस, जटा के बीच, हरे अघ कीच, चरण छवि श्री बनवारी की ॥ चमकती उज्ज्वल तट रेणु, बज रही वृंदावन बेणु । चहुं दिसि गोपी ग्वाल धेनु, हंसत मृदु मंद, चांदनी चंद, कटत भव फंद, टेर सुन दीन भिखारी की ॥

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