Akshaya Tritiya 2020: How To Make The Most Of This Auspicious Day Amid Lockdown

The option to buy gold remains open with you digitally as well as in its physical forms online.

Representational Picture (AFP)

New Delhi: As the auspicious occasion of Akshay Tritiya falls on April 26, we take you through the significance of the day and how to celebrate it during the lockdown. What is Akshaya Tritiya? Akshaya Tritiya is an annual spring festival celebrated across India as the day is considered auspicious and marks the harbinger of good luck in the Hindu calendar. The word Akshaya is defined as “never diminishing” as the day is associated with wealth, prosperity, and happiness and it falls on the third day of brighter half of the moon in the month of Vaisakha, according to the lunar calendar. It will be celebrated on April 26. It is also known as Akha Teej, and followers believe that the occasion is best suited for organising rituals, rites, and prayers. This day is marked by a tradition of buying valuables such as gold and silver. It is believed that buying a gold bar or gold jewellery brings good luck and prosperity. What is the religious significance? This day is considered as the birthday of Lord Parashurama, one of the ten Dashavataras of Lord Vishnu. Hence, devotees offer prayers to Lord Vishnu on this day. Another belief goes that Goddess Ganga had arrived on Earth from heaven. People also seek blessings from Goddess Annapoorna, the deity of food, and nourishment on Akshaya Tritiya. It is the day when Sudama offered Aval to Lord Krishna, who in turn blessed him with bountiful wealth and happiness. Moreover, this day is considered most auspicious to celebrate events like marriage, thread ceremony, and starting of businesses. How to buy gold during the lockdown? Traditionally, sales on Akshaya Tritiya range from 20 tons to 25 tons, representing about 4 per cent of the country’s total annual consumption, as per rating agency ICRA. The price of gold in India has gone up over the last few months. Gold futures were up 0.17 per cent or Rs 78 to Rs 46,505 per 10 grams on Friday. This time jewelers are trying to pitch online sales as stores remain closed due to lockdown. Some jewelers are offering consumers the option of locking in their products on the day and taking them home on a later date. Tanishq, the jewellery brand from the house of Tata, will cater to the Akshaya Tritiya gold demand through its e-commerce platform, according to a Livemint report. Hence, the option to buy gold remains open with you digitally as well as in its physical forms online. You can buy gold in various forms-gold exchange-traded funds, sovereign gold bonds, and physical form of gold as well. But carefully chose the option because each of them has different features. (With inputs from agencies)