Among all countries in the world, India is one with a large geographical area, supporting people from all communities and religions. We celebrate festivals of all religions with equal joy and enthusiasm, which is the perfect example of unity in diversity.
India’s culturally rich heritage has been built over the centuries, and this has led to a huge variety of Indian life, soul, and festivals. It is the only country where festivals are celebrated throughout the year, which is why India is called the land of festivals.
Some of the major festivals that are celebrated in the country include Diwali, Holi, Eid, Christmas, Lohri, Baishakhi, etc. These festivals teach us how people from different religions, cultures, and races can coexist in harmony, and that is something special and unique about our country that makes it different from other countries.
When it comes to festivals, the months of April and May are considered crucial, as many festivals fall during these months, such as Eid, Baisakhi, Rangoli Bihu, Puthandu-Pirappu, Akshaya Tritiya, etc.
Akshaya Tritiya 2023 Date
As per the Hindu calendar, the festival of Akshaya Tritiya is celebrated on the third lunar day, or Tithi, of Shukla Paksha of the month of Vaishakha. Hindus and Jains in India and Nepal observe this day as the third day of unending prosperity. This year, the festival of Akshaya Tritiya will fall on Saturday, April 22, 2023.
Akshaya Tritiya 2023 Muhurat
In the year 2022, the Shubh Muhurat of Akshaya Tritiya Puja will commence from 7:49 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. on April 22, 2023. This year the Akshaya Tritiya Tithi will begin at 7:49 AM on April 22, 2023, and end at 7:47 AM on April 23, 2023.
In case you are planning to perform Graha Pravesh on this day, you don’t need to worry about a muhurat; you can enter the new house at any time during the whole day.
Akshaya Tritiya History
Akshaya Tritiya is one of the auspicious festivals, which is celebrated by people from Hindu and Jain communities with happiness and zeal. It is also known as Akha Teej or Akti. The word Akshaya in Sanskrit means something that never ends, which means it is eternal in nature.
This is a symbol of auspiciousness and goodness. So, on this day, you are expected to purchase gold, buy a new house, car, or anything else you want to, or make the big decisions of your life. This is because such purchases or decisions are likely to bear fruit.
Why we Celebrate Akshaya Tritiya?
There are many mythological stories associated with it. One of the most well-known stories is that Akshay Tritiya is the short story about Lord Krishna and his childhood best friend Sudama. When they were young, they used to live and study together in Gurukula.
One day they were sent to the forest to get wood. It started raining, and they paused under a tree for shelter. Krishna said that he was hungry, and Sudama, who had some puffed rice for a snack, shared the rice with him.
As they grew up, Lord Krishna was ruling, as he was born into a royal family, while Sudama was going through extreme poverty. Sudama decided to meet Krishna and, while leaving, also carried a fistful of rice to give to Krishna. Krishna was elated to see his best friend and treated him like a king.
Feeling overwhelmed by all this hospitality, Sudama could not gather the courage to ask him for anything and simply walked back home, but when he reached his house, it was filled with gold and riches. This faith and friendship between Lord Krishna and Sudama are associated with the celebration of Akshaya Tritiya.
It is also said that Akshaya Tritiya also marks the birthday of Lord Parshuram, who is the sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
Significance of Akshaya Tritiya
The festival of Akshay Tritiya is important for millions of Indians, as we know our country has a long history with gold. On this day, both consumers and retailers prepare for a successful trade. Hindus and Jains, in particular, celebrate the day with happiness and zeal and purchase gold in the hopes of bringing fortune into their lives.
In Jainism, the day of Akshaya Tritiya commemorates the first Tirthankara, Lord Rishabhdev, ending his one-year asceticism by consuming sugarcane juice poured into his cupped hands. So, on this day, people who observe the year-long alternative day fast known as Varshi-tap finish their tapasya by drinking sugarcane juice.