WHAT ARE THE ACTIVITIES TO BE DONE ON AKSHAYA TRUTIYA DAY?

According to dharma SAstras, the following are  the sacred activities to be done on Akshaya TrutIya day which is considered very auspicious:-
1.Taking bath in holy rivers
2.Japa
3.Homa (AupAsanam)
4.Vedic recitation
5.Pitru tarpaNam
6.DAnam

yasyAm snAnam japo homah svAdhyAyah pitrutarpaNam ।
dAnam ca kriyate kincit tat sarvam syAdihAkshayam ॥
जय जय श्रीराधे 

WHETHER PITRU TARPANAM FORMING PART OF BRAHMA YAJNAM HAS TO BE DONE DAILY EVEN BY THOSE WHOSE FATHER IS ALIVE?

The Nitya pitru tarpaNam formimg part of Brahma Yajnam has to be done every day using plain water without any tila. This is meant for invoking the pitru devatas. There is no AvAhanam for one's pitru, pitAmaha and prapitAmaha. This is to be done daily by even those whose father is alive. The proper method of doing this has to be learnt from a Guru.

 

The shaNNavati pitru tarpaNam invoking one's pitru, pitAmaha and prapitAmaha has to be done only by those whose father is not alive. This tarpaNam using tila is done during amAvAsya, sankramaNam ( birth of month) , ashtaka, etc