Akshaya Tritiya, a most revered Sanatana festival will be celebrated on May 10, 2024. Sanatanis observe it for its auspiciousness and eternal prosperity. The term 'Akshaya' signifies eternal, or never diminishing while 'Tritiya' denotes the third day of the bright fortnight. It is celebrated on the third day of the bright fortnight, as it is ideal for new beginnings/ventures, starting a business, embarking on a new job and performing religious rituals. On this day, devotees worship Lord Kubera and Goddess Lakshmi, engage in charity, and conduct special pujas. This year, the festival begins at 04:17 AM on May 10 and ends on May 11, 2024, at 02:50 AM. The ideal time for Akshaya Tritiya Puja falls between 05:13 AM to 11:43 AM.

.What is the significance of Akshaya Tritiya?

Akshaya Tritiya, also known as Akha Teej, holds deep religious importance for Sanatanis residing in Bharat and worldwide. It symbolizes eternal prosperity and abundance and it is believed that any auspicious activity performed on this day ensures everlasting success and fortune and brings desired results.

How is Akshaya Tritiya celebrated?

This day is considered as very auspicious for various rituals and celebrations such as marriages, engagements, and investments. It is a belief that anything that is begun on this day is indestructible and eventually flourishes with time. Therefore, the start of a new venture or purchase of a valuable commodity on this day is encouraged by our ancestors. It is also common practice to make new investments towards the expansion and development of businesses.  

Devotees offer prayers to deities, decorate temples, and conduct special pujas. Lord Kubera and Goddess Lakshmi, the epitomes of wealth and prosperity are worshipped with much devotion.

Sanatanis generally buy gold, silver, property, utensils or any valuable commodity on this festival as it guarantees blessings and the endless character of the wealth and profits in the family. Gold is associated with riches and purity because it is believed that purchasing gold symbolizes wealth and prosperity that grows with time. This age-old tradition teaches us that investing in gold is always profitable and can never fail to yield profit on resale. 

What are the legends associated with Akshaya Tritiya?

When the Pandavas and their wife, Draupati were in exile. At that time, a saint called and said, ‘I am going to have food with you.’ When the message came, they had no food since they had already eaten and had kept their pots away. Draupati prayed to Lord Krishna. At the same time, Krishna also came to their house and said, ‘Oh I am very hungry.’ When he came in, he saw that there was only one grain of rice stuck to the pot. He picked that one grain of rice and ate it, and turned the pot into an Akshaya Patra. Akshaya Patra means that which never diminishes. When the saint came with 400 disciples, Draupati could feed all of them from the same pot. The more she took from the pot, the more would come from it. It would never went down and kept giving food as a perennial source or a magical pot.

The other story is, Krishna had a friend called Sudhama who was very poor. His name Sudhama means a good place, or a very benevolent place. One day his wife said, ‘We are living in such poverty and your friend, Krishna is so rich. Why you do not go and get something from him as he is your close friend.’ Sudhama said, ‘Okay, I will go, but I cannot go to a friend empty handed. I have to take something’. So, his wife packed three handful of puffed rice in a scarf and gave it to him,

When Sudhama went to Krishna. Krishna welcomed him, and washed his feet. They were such good friends and while cherishing their friendship with so much love, Sudhama forgot to give puffed rice to Krishna and forgot to ask him for anything because he was so overwhelmed with love. When he was about to leave, Krishna asked, ‘Hey, you have brought me something? Give it to me. I know your wife has sent something. Krishna took the puffed rice and he ate one handful, then he ate the second handful, at the same time his wife Rukmini came and said, ‘I want to take the third one’.

While all this was happening, Sudhama left without asking him for anything. When he reached home, he found his house flooded with riches and gold.

So, people buy gold and they gift each other. Today if you get anything, it will always grow. You give gold coin/s as gift, or you buy, it all grows. That is the belief.

Nothing is impossible. Whether it is spiritual upliftment or even material things will flow when the devotion is very strong. That is the essence of this story.

What are the benefits of Akshaya Tritiya Puja?

·      Obtain divine grace of Vishnu, Lakshmi, and Kubera

·      Get undiminishing wealth and good fortune

·      Achieve success in career with name and fame

·      Gain spiritual upliftment and fulfillment of desires