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Why do people invest in gold in Akshaya Tritiya? Is it the prosperity that is said to bring that drives them to buy one? India's affinity towards gold has been a significant fact for decades now, but what makes buying gold a tradition during Akshaya Tritiya? Here is everything you should know about this Akshaya Tritiya 2024 Muhurat in different cities, its significance, rituals, and how to perform Akshaya Tritiya puja.
Akshaya Tritiya is an auspicious day in the Hindu calendar, celebrated on the birth anniversary of the sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. This avatar is referred to as Lord Parashurama. Tritiya annually falls on the third day of the bright half of Vaishakha (Hindu month), which usually comes around April or May. It is believed that any good deed performed on the day of Akshaya Tritiya brings never-ending fortune, luck, success and prosperity to the individual and their families.
What is Akshaya Tritiya 2024
Akshaya Tritiya is one of the major festivals observed by Hindus and Jain. The day is believed to bring a happy outcome. Hence, it is considered a favourable day for all new beginnings, such as buying gold, starting a new venture/ business, or even getting married. The day is also referred to as Akha Teej.
The term 'Akshaya' means eternal or infinite in Sanskrit; it is also known as Parsurama Jayanti and is named after the incarnation, Lord Parashurama. According to the Hindu scriptures, the day is observed to hold immense significance as it appears during the waxing phase of the moon, in Vaisakha (in Hindu month), Shukla Paksha. Akshaya Tritiya is followed in Hinduism and Jainism.
This year Akshaya Tritiya falls on,
Akha Teej symbolises prosperity and boundless fortune and is believed to be an auspicious time to begin a new venture like getting married, relocating to a new job, starting a business, getting a new job, or investing. Besides, the day also serves as a day to remember and honour the departed family members or ancestors as they progress in life.
Akshaya Tritiya 2024 Puja Muhurat
The Akha Teej 2024 puja Muhurat will last for exactly 6 hours and 29 minorities from 6:06 am to 12:35 pm. At the same time, the time for Tritiya will last for 22 hours 33 minutes from 4:17 am on May 10, 2024, to 2:50 am on May 11, 2024.
Here are the timing for Akshaya Tritiya Shubh Muhurat in different cities is as follows:
Significance of Akshaya Tritiya
As stated above, Akshata Tritiya is considered one of the best days to start something new. So, people usually buy precious metals like gold or silver in the belief that they will prosper.
Devotees celebrate this day by worshipping Lord Vishnu, Goddess Lakshmi, and Lord Ganesha by offering prayers to deities, performing rituals and doing charitable activities like distributing clothes, essentials and food to the less fortunate, in turn amplifying the effects of the day and getting deities blessings. But largely, the day is celebrated for Lord Vishnu, as it marks the beginning of the Treta Yug.
What is Treta Yug? It is the Age of Triads, which is marked by the rise of Lord Rama as a righteousness and decline in virtue. It is the second-best of the 4 yugas in Hinduism and lasted for 1,296,000 years.
The beginning of Treta yuga coincides with the celebration of the sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu, Parsurama Jayanti. It is celebrated during the Shukla Paksha in the month of April-May according to the Gregoria calendar; it is also said that Treta Yuga began the day of Akshaya Tritiya.
Astrological Significance of Akshaya Tritiya
Astrologically, Akshaya Tritiya is said to have profound benefits as it aligns with the sun's entry into Aries and the moon's placement in Taurus. This occurs on the third day of Shukla Paksha during the Hindu month Vaisakha, when the sun and moon shine their brightest and attract blessings from celestial bodies, enhancing wealth and abundance.
The optimal positioning of the Sun and Moon not only signifies the intensity but also ensures maximum light reaches the surface of the earth. It also signifies a favourable time for new beginnings and investments.
Rituals Associated with Akshaya Tritiya
The celebrations of Akha Teej may vary across cities, but they are observed with enhanced enthusiasm and devotion.
Here are key rituals and practices followed by different devotees on the Akshaya Tritiya,
For Lord Vishnu,
- Some observe fasting and do charitable activities such as offering food, clothing and other essentials to those in need.
- Incorporate tulsi leaves into dishes offered to the deity on the Tritiya day, which will later be distributed as prasad.
- In some of the eastern regions of India, the day is celebrated with prayers for a bountiful yield, as it also signifies the commencement of the harvest season.
For Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi,
- Halkhata is a special puja that is performed by businesspersons before the beginning of the new financial year to acknowledge the association with prosperity.
Other traditions,
- Buy gold or silver as the day symbolises abundance and prosperity.
- A spiritual visit to Haridwar and Varanasi, and take a dip in the sacred waters of the Ganges.
In Jainism,
- Some followers conclude their year-long Tapasya by breaking their fast with sugarcane juice.
How to Perform Akshaya Tritiya 2024 Puja?
No auspicious day goes without performing the puja with diligence and devotion. Here are the steps to perform Akshaya Tritiya Puja on May 10, 2024.
- Be an early riser, and clean yourself and your home.
- Prepare for Arghya, which refers to 'libation of water' and offer to the Sun god, Surya Dev.
- Find a calm space to meditate for a brief period and take a Sankalp to perform the entire puja.
- Now sprinkle Ganga Jal on the place where you worship and place idols of Lord Vishnu, Ganesha, and Goddess Laksmni on the puja chowki.
- While placing the deities, follow this order: Lord Vishnu in the centre, Goddess Lakshmi to the left of Lord Vishnu and Lord Ganesha to his right.
- Light an oil lamp or ghee next to the chowki. Make a Swastika with sindoor on the Kalash and apply turmeric to it.
- Now fill in the Kalash with kumkum and turmeric water; place the coconut on top, under which coins and mango leaves, half inside and half out.
- Place the Kalash on the chowki, and you can offer fruits, flowers, Kalava, Sakshina, and Akshat to seek the deities' blessings.
- Recite mantras and offer Naivedhyam (fresh food offered by devotees to deities); conclude the rituals by performing Arti (flame lit using camphor, ghee or oil).
Celebrate this Akshaya Tritiya 2024 by embracing the values of the day as it signifies spiritual upliftment, generosity and prosperity. Above are some of the common traditions you could follow on the Akshaya Tritiya 2024, such as buying gold or other jewellery, offering charity, and many more. May this day bring you happiness, fortune, prosperity and success.
