MILLIONS of Hindus and Jains all across India were busy celebrating the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya on Friday (10) -- the festival of prosperity, fortune, and success.
Prime minister Narendra Modi took to X to extend wishes on the special day, to his countrymen in Hindi, “Warm wishes to all the families of the country on Akshaya Tritiya. I hope that this auspicious occasion that inspires charity brings new energy and enthusiasm in the lives of all of you."
Devotees in the holy city of Ayodhya in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh were seen offering prayers and taking a holy dip in the local Sarayu river. The state's chief minister, Yogi Adityanath, performed rituals in Gorakhpur, his constituency, as part of the festival.
In another tweet, he made a special mention of the eastern Indian state of Odisha saying the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya is considered to be an auspicious one there.
"Akshaya Tritiya is a very auspicious day in Odisha and for the great Odia culture. This is the day when the making of chariots begins for the Rath Yatra of Mahaprabhu Shri Jagannath. It is also closely linked with Akhi Muthi Anukula, when farmers start sowing seeds. May the blessings of Mahaprabhu Shri Jagannath always remain upon us," the PM said.
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The day has special significance in Hindu mythology and scriptures. Its name is derived from the Sanskrit words Akshaya meaning ‘never diminishing’ or ‘indestructible’ and Tritiya meaning ‘the third lunar day’.
The latter signifies the day of celebration, that is, the third day of Shukla Paksha in the month of Vaisakh, considered special for the perfect positioning of the sun and the moon in their best planetary alignment.
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The former can be connected with the ‘Akshaya Patra’ in the revered scripture of Mahabharata, denoting the magical copper plate that is an inexhaustible source of food that would empty only when Draupadi, the wife of the Pandava brothers, eats. The magical object was gifted by Surya to Yudhishthira. It helped the Pandavas survive the harsh life during their twelve-year exile.
According to Hindu scriptures, the day marks the end of Satya Yuga and the beginning of Treta Yuga. Besides, it also marks the birth anniversary of Lord Parshurama who is considered the sixth avatar or incarnation of Lord Vishnu - one of the principal deities of Hinduism.
The mythical and holy significance of the day makes it auspicious. Therefore, devotees celebrate it by investing in various ways like buying gold, assets like real estate, establishing businesses, performing marriage ceremonies, engaging in charity, offering prayers to Lord Vishnu for good luck and success in their ventures.
Many people fast on the day and take holy dips in rivers as well.
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