Akshaya Tritiya 2018: Significance, puja muhurat and the legend of Draupadi

The auspicious festival of Akshaya Tritiya will be celebrated tomorrow across India. As people gear up to buy gold and pray to the Almighty for his blessings, here are key facts about Akshaya Tritiya:

Significance: Akshaya Tritiya is celebrated on the third day of brighter half in lunar month Vaishaksha. According to the legend, it was on Akshaya Tritiya that sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu - Lord Parshuram was born. It is also said that Lord Ganesh began writing the biggest Hindu epic Mahabharat recited by Maharishi Ved Vyas on this day

Importance: It is believed that the donations and auspicious ceremonies performed on this day have long lasting effects. This day can be chosen to perform auspicious ceremonies by anybody without consulting any astrologer. Any person who worships Lord Vishnu on this day with devotion and dedication is blessed with Satva gun i.e. truthfulness and righteousness. Akshaya Tritiya is also considered to be auspicious for purchasing gold, ornaments, jewellery, silver and utensils.

3: Akshaya Tritiya puja muhurat
Akshaya Tritiya shubh muhurat begins on 3:45 am. The puja muhart begins from 6:22 am and would conclude on 12:37 pm. Whereas the Akshaya Tithi would go on till 1:29 am.

4: Best time to buy gold
The main attraction of Akshaya Tritiya is gold shopping. The best timing to buy gold will begin from 3:35 am on April 18 and stay till 1:29 am on April 19.

5: Legend of Draupadi
According to Hindu mythology, it was on this day when Lord Sun gifted Akshaya patra to Pandavs. It is said that the blessed pot was always full of food and was the source of nutrition for the Pandavas during their exile days. Once, sage Durvasa promised to visit the Pandavas in their hutment. But Draupadi got worried as there was no food left. She started crying and prayed to Lord Krishna. It is said that the Lord came and ate just one grain left in that pot, thus satiating the hunger of entire universe.