Akshaya Tritiya 2024: Date and Timings
Akshaya Tritiya is considered the most divine day of the year. In the year, 2024 Akshaya Tritiya will be celebrated on Friday, May 10th.
This year, in 2024, the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya falls on Friday, May 10th. Devotees can commence their puja rituals during the propitious timings, from 5:33 AM to 12:18 PM. Additionally, for those intending to purchase gold, favorable timings extend from May 10, starting at 5:33 AM, all the way until 2:50 AM on May 11th.
By adhering to these auspicious timings, individuals can partake in the festivities and observances of Akshaya Tritiya with heightened spiritual significance and prosperity.
Significance of Akshaya Tritiya
Akshaya Tritiya holds immese significance in Hindu culture as it is believed to be the most divine day of the year. It falls on the Tritiya Tithi (third day) of the bright half (Shukla Paksha) of the Vaishakh month according to the Hindu lunar calendar. This auspicious day is associated with prosperity, abundance, and spiritual growth. It is believed that any virtuous activity undertaken on Akshaya Tritiya yields eternal benefits.
Listening to the complete story of Akshaya Tritiya during worship is considered highly meritorious and is believed to bring blessings equivalent to performing thousands of Yagyas(sacrificial rituals).
The Story of Dharamdas
The story of Dharamdas, a virtuous Vaishya, illustrates the power of charity on Akshaya Tritiya. Dharamdas heard about the auspiciousness of donating on this day and decided to perform acts of charity. Despite objections from his wife, Dharamdas remained steadfast in his resolution and collected various items for donation, including gold, silver, clothes, and food items.
His unwavering commitment to charity led to him being reborn as the king of Kushavati in his next life, where he enjoyed prosperity and comfort as a result of his previous acts of generosity.
Historical and Mythological Significance:
Akshaya Tritiya has witnessed several significant events throughout history and mythology. In Satya Yuga and Treta Yuga, epochs of Hindu cosmology, important incarnations and events occurred on this auspicious day.
Notable figures such as Akshay Kumar, Annapurna, Parshuram, and Ganga are believed to have manifested on Akshaya Tritiya. Additionally, Kuber, the God of Wealth, was blessed with limitless prosperity on this divine day.
Divine Interventions:
Akshaya Tritiya is associated with divine interventions and blessings from Hindu deities. Sudama, the childhood fiend of Lord Krishna, met him in Dwarka on this day and received immense wealth and blessings. Lord Krishna famously intervened to protect Draupadi during the Mahabharata period when Duryodhana attempted to disrobe her. Furthermore, Lord Krishna saved the Pandavas from the wrath of sage Durvasa during their exile, showcasing his divine grace and protection.
Spiritual Practices on Akshaya Tritiya:
Observing spiritual practices on Akshaya Tritiya is believed to bestow immense blessings and prosperity. The auspicious time for puja typically falls during the morning hours, from 05:01 a.m. to 11:04 a.m. on 10th May. Devotees are advised to wake up early, bath with holy Ganga water, and cleanse their home and temples. Idols of Goddess Laxmi, Lord Vishnu, Shri Ganesh and Lord Kuber are worshipped with devotion, offerings of flowers, fruits, sweets, and homemade delicacies.
Reciting sacred texts such as Kanak Dhara Stotra, Vishnu Namvali, Kuber Chalisa, and Ganesh Chalisa during the puja is considered highly auspicious. The puja concludes with the chanting of “Aa of Vishnu Lakshmi, ” signifying the completion of the sacred ritual and invoking divine blessings.
Legends of Akshaya Tritiya and their Stories:
1.The Akshaya Patra:
- During the exile, the Pandavas received a divine gift from Lord Sun on Akshaya Tritiya. This gift, known as the Akshaya Patra, was a vessel that provided an endless supply of food.
Draupadi once faced a dilemma when a sage visited them during exile and she had nothing to offer. In her distress, she showed Lord Krishna and empty bowl that had held rice earlier. Krishna, finding a single grain stuck to it, consumed it and felt completely satisfied, thereby satiating all beings and the universe.
The vessel, later known as the Akshaya Patra, became emblematic of the day of Akshaya Tritiya, symbolizing abundance and eternal sustenance
2.Beginning of Treta Yuga:
- According to ancient scriptures, a fierce battle between Goddess Durga and the demon Mahishasura marked the end of Satya Yuga and the beginning of Treta Yuga, the second of four yugas.
This momentous event, which occurred on Akshaya Tritiya, signified the dawn of a new era and the triumph of good over evil. Hence, Akshaya Tritiya is celebrated as the auspicious commencement of Treta Yuga, representing renewal and the eternal cycle of time.
3. Krishna-Sudama Reunion:
- Akshaya Tritiya commemorates the heartwarming reunion of childhood friends, Lord Krishna and Sudama. Sudama, prompted by his wife to seek aid from Krishna, visited Dwarka on this day. Overwhelmed by Krishna’s opulence, Sudama hesitated to ask for help and left without presenting the rice flakes he had brought as a gift.
Krishna, cherishing their bond of friendship, consumed the rice flakes left behind by Sudama. Upon Sudama’s return, he found his humble abode transformed into a magnificent palace, signifying Krishna’s divine blessings of abundance and prosperity. Thus, Akshaya Tritiya is celebrated as a day of prosperity and divine blessings, exemplifying the power of friendship and gratitude.