Akshaya Tritiya, also known as Akha Teej, is considered highly auspicious and is among the three auspicious lunar days that are called ‘sade-teen muhurat‘. These three and a half muhurats (tithis) are Gudi Padwa, Vijaya Dashmi, Akshaya Tritiya and Kartik Shukla Pratipada. The first three tithis are considered for a full day while the last as a half tithi, hence it is called ‘sade-teen muhurat’. Akshaya Tritiya falls on Shukla Paksha Tritiya in the Hindu month of Vaishakha.
In Sanskrit, the word ‘Akshaya’ means ‘never diminishing’. It is believed that the benefits of yajna, havan, daan, and japa, remains with the person forever. There’s also a tradition to buy gold on an auspicious day as it is believed that buying gold on this day brings wealth, prosperity and continues to grow. It is said that the sun and moon are at their radiant phase. No muhurat is required for any activity on the day. Akshaya Tritiya is considered auspicious to start a new venture and also to start a new inning in life i.e. for marriage.
The importance of Akshaya Tritiya dates back to Indian mythology. As per South Indian legend, Goddess Madhura and God Sundaresa, an incarnation of Lord Shiva, got married on this day. Hence, it is said that those who get married on Akshaya Tritiya are blessed with prosperity and happiness. It is also believed that those couples whose horoscopes are mismatched can also get rid of negative vibes if they schedule their ceremony on the day. In many cities of India, community marriages are organised where couples with financial crises can have a wedding with religious splendor.
One of the most popular examples of marriage on Akshaya Tritiya is of Bollywood actors Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai in 2007.