Akshaya Tritiya – Auspicious Day for Weddings

Akshaya Tritiya or Akha Teej, is considered to be an Auspicious day for Hindus in India. It is a day to start new ventures, buy something significant and most importantly a day for muhurat for marriages. In Urban India, this day is auspicious for buying jewellery. You will see many top jewellers offering schemes and discounts to attract customers. Culturally, this day has lot of religious significance. 

The importance and significance of Akshaya Tritiya- 

Akshaya means ‘eternal’ and Tritiya stands for ‘third day'. This day falls on the third day of the lunar fortnight of the Hindu month of Vaishakh (Baisakh), and hence the name. It is said that holy rites, rituals and acts of charity performed on this day bring unending Bliss, Grace, and Prosperity. The grand importance of this day roots back to Indian mythology. 

It is said that the God of wealth and the treasurer of all deities, Kubera, prayed to Goddess Lakshmi on this special day, and was granted a gift of perpetual wealth and prosperity. This is why this day is so auspicious for starting new business ventures like buying a new property or investing in Gold. The day is also important to get married, as it assures prosperity and benefits in a relationship. In many households, a day-long Kubera-Lakshmi puja is performed.

Mythological it is said that on Akshaya Tritiya the holy river Ganga descended on Earth from the heavens on this day. This is the day when the sage Parshuram, the sixth incarnation of Vishnu, was born. Also this day the Treta Yug, the period of the holy Ramayana, commenced. Hence its holy significance. Also on this very day the Guru Ved Vyasa initiated the recital of the great Indian epic Mahabharata before lord Ganesha.

Lord Krishna’s childhood friend Sudama, visited Dwarka to him and offered him a humble gift of poha (rice flakes). Therefore, Vaishnavas (worshippers of lord Vishnu) fast throughout the day and open their fasts with rice.

Significance for couples

According to a South Indian legend, Goddess Madhura got married to God Sundaresa (an incarnation of lord Shiva) on this day. Therefore, the couples who marry on this day are blessed with eternal prosperity and bliss, by the gods themselves. Akshaya Tritiya always sees an unprecedented rush in the number of marriages taking place in the India. There is an unmatched demand for venue bookings in the urban and rural cities of the country. 

The auspiciousness of this day arises from the belief that on this day, sun and moon are in their most radiant phase and, astrologically at an exalted position. It is believed that  couples with un-matched horoscopes can also get married on Akshaya Tritiya. The day washes away all the negativity of the charts and stars and there is a new beginning for the couple.

There are endless tales and legends that depict the divine virtues that are inherent in the day. In many states, mass community marriages are organized under a single mandap, on this day to help the brides and grooms with limited financial means.  

Bollywood Actors Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai got married on Akshaya Tritiya in year 2007. 

Akshaya meaning eternal or something that cannot be destroyed or never diminishes. Therefore, it is a popular belief that buying something as valuable as gold, on this day, will bring luck and prosperity. Therefore, Gold shopping is a popular activity on this day. If not jewellery, many people simply buy small gold coins with Goddess Lakshmi engraved on them.