Akshaya Tritiya, also known as Akti or Akha Teej, is an annual Jain and Hindu spring festival. It falls on the third tithi of the bright half of the Hindu month of Vaisakha.
📜History & Significance
As per Hindu time keeping, the time has been divided into four Yuga. All four Yuga are cyclic and these are known as Satya Yuga, Treta Yuga, Dwapar Yuga and Kali Yuga respectively. Akshaya Tritiya is the day when Satya Yuga i.e. the golden period of human life got over and Treta Yuga got started. Hence the origin of Akshaya Tritiya is deep rooted in Hinduism and it dates back to the creation of human life on the earth. Hence Akshaya Tritiya is one of the four Yugadi Tithi in Hinduism. The word Akshaya (अक्षय) means never diminishing. Hence the benefits of doing any Japa, Yajna, Pitra-Tarpan, Dan-Punya i.e. charity works, Svadhyaya i.e. studying of Vedas and Puja on this day never diminish and remain with the person forever. Hence, to take the maximum benefit of the day, many Hindus take bath in the sacred water at various holy places. Not only on Akshaya Tritiya day, many devotees take pledge to take daily holy bath during the whole month of Vaishakha. To appease their deceased ancestors, Hindu families also perform Tarpan with the water and sesame seeds on the auspicious day of Akshaya Tritiya. It is believed that performing Hawan gives maximum benefits and people perform Homa preferably with Yava i.e. barley seeds and Akshata i.e. unbroken rice on the significant day of Akshaya Tritiya.
🪔Traditions & Observance
day long fasting dedicated to Lord Vishnu worshipping Lakshminarayana form of Lord Vishnu purchasing gold in form of jewelry and coins conducing marriages and house warming ceremony buying new vehicle taking bath in Ganges and other sacred places performing Tarpan for deceased ancestors offering charity to Brahmins or those in need conducting Hawan
🛕Puja Vidhi & Rituals
Lakshminarayana i.e. Lord Vishnu along with His consort Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped on the day of Akshaya Tritiya. The day is also coincides with the birth anniversary of Lord Parashurama which is popularly known as Parashurama Jayanti. Lord Parashurama was the sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Hence, devotees of Lord Vishnu and Brahmin communities worship Lord Parashurama on Akshaya Tritiya day.
