Akshay Tritya
Akshay Tritya is a prominent Hindu and Jain festival that is also known as Akha Teej. The word Akhsay itself means the never diminishing or eternal light in Sanskrit, which is why this day is considered to be extremely auspicious for buying gold or any other form of jewelry as well as starting new business ventures or deals. Indians, especially in the state of Goa, Odissa, Kerala and West Bengal, celebrate this day by starting their morning with prayer ceremonies, which differ from community to community. Once the morning prayers are over, a piece of jewelry is bought, preferably gold, to ensure the flow of prosperity into the family.
Akshay tritya (Image: The Hindu Business Line)
The Background
For Hindus, this festival marks the day Lord Ganesha began writing the epic Mahabharata, which is why all prayer ceremonies are centered around him and Goddess Laxmi, the bringer of prosperity. This day is said to be ruled by Lord Vishnu and according to Indian mythology, this was also the day when the river Ganges, one of the most sacred rivers according to the beliefs of Hinduism, descended to earth from heaven.
For Jains, on the other hand, this festival celebrates Lord Adinatha and marks the day true Jainism was born. The history behind this is that the Lord denounced all physical possessions and began to fast until he was offered food or water by anyone else. This was to ensure that all following monks of Jainism are treated with the same courtesy and are offered food and water as opposed to being shunned away. After a year of fasting, he was finally offered sugarcane juice and this day marks the day when the fast was broken.
The Practices & Rituals
Hindus utilize this day to indulge in buying jewelry as this is considered an auspicious day. Buying jewelry also symbolizes the fact that the Goddess Laxmi, bringer of wealth, is entering one’s home. This is why, even a small gold guinea can be bought to ensure prosperity. Other than this, people are also encouraged to start new ventures on this day to ensure their success. According to experts in the Hindu belief, any special work (such as starting new ventures or buying gold), that is carried out between a specific timing that corresponds to the third lunar day or the tritiya, will bring success.
Jains, on the other hand, keep a fast on this day and end it with sugarcane juice. They also indulge in purchasing religious items as it is believed that they bring good energy to the home.
Image: Pinterest
Style & Variety
India is known for its indigenous jewelry because of the intricate detailing that goes into designing and making these pieces as well as the sheer number of styles and variety one can find. On Akshay Tritya, women can purchase any style of jewelry (as this is an aesthetic preference) as long as it uses gold. As part of observing this festival, men can gift or women can buy for themselves jewelry that reflects the rich cultural heritage of Indian gold jewelry crafting. Among others, the most predominant purchases on this day are:
Kundan Sets
Kundan jewelry is the oldest form of jewelry in India and dates back to the Mughal Era. This jewelry is designed by placing foils of gold between different cut gem stones and the mount of the piece and is usually used to create extremely intricate and elaborate necklaces. This jewelry forms a major component in the bridal trousseau and is worn predominantly on weddings. This form of jewelry was originally worn by the members of the royal courts in Gujarat and Rajasthan, and slowly filtered to the common folk of the realm. It is widely popular in Punjab and Bihar as well. Parents buy this form of jewelry for their daughters, in preparation for her wedding, because of the auspiciousness of this festival.
Meenakari sets
Following Kundan work, Meenakari jewelry is one of the most preferred forms of jewelry in India. This art involves using colored gemstones and enameling with gold. Unlike kundan, these sets have designs that are engraved on them as well. The recurring motif or pattern is usually flowers, birds and fish and the colors used on the pieces are determined by the metal that has been used in the first place. For instance, green, blue or yellow are most commonly used when the body is made of silver while almost any other color including these can be used when the body is made of gold, which is why the latter is the most preferred metal to use when it comes to this kind of jewelry. The purchase of these sets is commonplace for men who wish to gift jewelry to their wives on this favorable occasion.
Gold sets
Gold jewelry in India dates back to the Indus Valley Civilization and has been widely associated with royalty and opulence. In South India, plain necklaces of gold with a small gold token at the front are often preferred over diamonds, kundan, or any other form of jewelry and are worn with the daily attire. On Akshay Tritya, women can also buy simple gold earrings, rings, anklets, coins or kamarbhands in observance of this occasion. Although these gold sets may lack the intricacy displayed on a kundan set or a meenakari set, they are highly valued.
Gold jewelry Ganesha and Laxmi Designs
The ideal way to invoke the blessings of the Gods and Goddesses along with ushering prosperity into the home is to buy gold jewelry with tokens of Lord Ganesha and Goddess Laxmi. The most common form than in which these tokens are found are pendants on long golden chains as well as earrings. The designs needn’t necessarily be made of gold alone but can also have other precious and semi-precious stones on them, for aesthetic appeal.
Evolution of Observance over the Years
While in the olden days, Hindu and Jain families participated in ritualistic prayers and cleansing of the home through havans or holy fire, now, it is customary to perform a simple prayer at a temple or at home. Very few Hindus fast on this day and this festival is now largely associated with purchasing jewelry as opposed to a day of religious importance.
Over the years, the practice of gifting gold jewelry has evolved into gifting gold jewelry with diamonds jaded into them. The popularity of the stone is such, that Akshay Tritiya has become the perfect opportunity to gift the most precious of all gems. Moreover, the gifting of diamond studded into a gold base is considered a sign of prosperity as opposed to solely gold jewelry.
Maintenance
Jewelry is relatively easy to maintain, compared to the maintenance of garments. Jewelry boxes lined with cotton are the best way to ensure that nothing harms the pieces inside, no matter what the style of the jewelry is. Gold jewelry and tokens however, need to be secured. Most women store their jewelry at home in lockers while some prefer to do so in banks as the latter has a better security system.
Facts and Trivia
- The highest sale of jewelry in India is recorded on auspicious days such as Akshay Tritya.
- In Odissa Akshay Tritya is a day when farmers begin to plough their lands in preparation of Rath Yatra.
- In Bengal, a ceremony known as ‘Halkatta’ is performed during which new audit books for businesses are opened and gold is purchased.
- Jewelers in India offer festive discounts on this day.
References
Categories: Festivals, Weddings & Festivals