pune with the auspicious day around the corner the festive mood is upbeat among families across the city a simple puja at home feasting on special summer delicacies and stepping out for the customary shopping for gold or other valuables will mark akshaya tritiya for most people this year since it will celebrated on april 28 the festival also heralds a long weekend with many offices closed on monday on account of maharashtra daycounted among the threeandahalf most auspicious dates of the year akshaya tritiya is eagerly awaited by most families that usually reserve their biggest work for the day marriages are planned especially on this muhurta as are new ventures initiated shopping for gold automobiles as well as investing in real estate have come to mark the day over the yearsjewellery shops are expected to remain open until later than usual on friday more and more buyers are paying using plastic money rather than cash jewellers revealedexpressing confidence that the festival will bring about a rise in customer footfall satish kuber head of sales at p n gadgil sons jewellers said the mood among citizens is positive now everyone buys something on this auspicious date and this year we are foreseeing demand not only for gold jewellery but also diamond ornaments many people now want to invest in wearable lightweight jewellery so rings and small items combining gold and diamond are a big hitsayalee marathe founder of aadyaa line of jewellery too is gearing up for the festival we are launching a new line of jewellery on akshaya tritiya we are also stocking up on all other collections as buyers make it a point to get something on this day she saidrevealing how the family will celebrate the day marathes husband jaydeep hingne said celebrations are usually not very elaborate but we make it a point to worship our tools of work a laptop etc and pray for blessings in the year aheadaccording to priests people usually celebrate the day with a puja to pray for the peace of their family members and to remember those deceased puja is performed with a small waterfilled kalash wheat and fruits etc these are later offered to a brahmin or a needy person a priest explained