The words ‘Akshaya Tritya’ are derived from Sanskrit, where Akshaya means ‘eternal’ or ‘something that never diminishes’ and Tritya refers to the ‘third day of the lunar fortnite’. It is considered one of the most auspicious days in the Hindu calendar. The origins of Akshaya Tritiya are deeply rooted in ancient history and mythology. The history behind Akshaya Tritiya is deeply rooted in ancient history and mythology.

Akshaya Tritya or Atchaya Thiruthiyai has its historical origins linked to numerous legends and texts. First mentioned in the Puranas, the ancient Hindu scriptures, it is believed that the Treta Yuga or the second of the four yugas began on this day. It is also believed that Lord Parshuraama, one of the avatars of Lord Vishnu, was born on Akshaya Tritiya, making it a religiously significant day for the followers of Lord Vishnu.

Numerous mythological tales hold the true essence of Akshaya Tritiya. A popular legend of Akshaya Tritiya is associated with the Mahabharata. On this day, Lord Krishna is believed to have presented the Pandavas with the Akshaya Patra. It was a magical vessel that provided an inexhaustible supply of food, ensuring that the Pandavas never went hungry during their exile. Another mythology involves the story of the great Sage Veda Vyasa and Lord Ganesha. It is believed that the writing of the epic Mahabharata commenced on Akshay Tritiya as Lord Ganesha began scribing the epic without interruption while Veda Vyasa narrated it. 

It is a festival that holds strong religious significance in Hinduism and Jainism. It is considered a highly precious day for starting new ventures, purchasing gold, and making investments, which are believed to bring lasting prosperity for Hindus. People also undertake charitable activities, visit temples and perform Akshaya Tritiya pooja to seek blessings for success and wealth. In Jainism, Akshaya Tritiya marks the end of Tirthankara Rishabdeva’s one-year fast. It is believed that on this day, the first Tirthankara broke his fast by consuming sugarcane juice. The Jain community partakes in this festival by fasting and offering prayers, signifying the virtues of self-restraint. 

Akshaya Tritiya truly embodies the essence of eternal prosperity, unending abundance, and auspicious beginnings. It is considered ideal for housewarming ceremonies and weddings. It encourages individuals to start on new journeys, embrace change, and seek spiritual and material growth with unshaken faith. 

The most common practise of rituals and customs include devotees performing special pujas at home, offering fruits, sweets, and flowers to deities and seeking their blessings for success and abundance. People also believe that buying gold on this day brings lasting wealth and financial stability. The significance of Akshaya Tritiya lies in buying gold on this day, as it is considered highly auspicious. Acts of charity hold a special significance on this day as they donate food, clothes and money to the underprivileged, embodying compassion. Many people observe fasts and dedicate the day to prayer and meditation. Taking a dip in the Ganga River is a common purifying and auspicious practice.

In Maharashtra, Akshaya Tritiya is celebrated with great passion as people perform special pujas and ritualistically purchase gold. After visiting temples and markets for a day, they come home to devour the delicacy of Puran Poli. It is a sweet flatbread stuffed with lentils and jaggery. Farmers in Maharashtra often worship their ploughs and tools as they seek blessings for an abundant harvest.

The day is marked by the worship of Lord Ganesha and Goddess Laxmi in Gujarat. While people indulge in buying new clothes, jewellery, and other valuable things, charity and feeding the poor are essential aspects of the celebrations for the people of Gujarat. Akshaya Tritiya coincides with the Gangaur festival in Rajasthan, which is elaborately celebrated by women as they participate in a procession carrying beautifully decorated idols of Goddess Parvati and seek blessings for the long life of their husbands. In Odisha, Akshaya Tritiya is celebrated as Chandan Yatra, where devotees visit the Jagannath Temple in Puri and offer sandalwood paste and flowers to deities. Southern states like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh celebrate the festival with religious fervour as people gather to perform rituals, buy gold, and prepare delectable dishes like Kesari Bhath and Payasam. 

Akshaya Tritiya is a festival celebrated with great enthusiasm across India. It is a day that truly resembles the diversity of India’s rich cultural landscape, with a myrid of styles, fabrics, and colours used for the traditional attire worn by men and women in different states of the country.

In West Bengal, women traditionally wear Baluchari, Jamdani, or Kantha sarees. The Baluchari saree is known for its intricate depiction of mythological scenes done with Resham and Mina work on silk. Kantha is an artistic marvel that involves fine, running stitches manifested on old sarees, creating new patterns and motifs as a practice of recycling old fabrics. The Jamdani sari is a traditional handloom saree made of cotton or silk featuring floral and geometric motifs. 

In Odisha, women are seen wearing Bomkai, Ikat and Sambalpuri sarees. Also known as Sonepuri, the handwoven Bomkai Sari is renowned for its detailed embroidery and designs inspired by nature and mythology. Sambalpuri sarees are made by tie and dyed threads woven into the fabric to create elaborate patterns in vibrant colours. Motifs like conch shells, traditional geometric patterns and flowers are commonly manifested on these sarees.

In Andhra Pradesh, women often opt for sarees like Pochampally, Magalagiri, and Gadwal as they gather to celebrate Akshaya Tritiya. Like Ikat sarees, the Pochampally saree is distinctive for its patterns and is known to be light and comfortable, making it a perfect choice for festive occasions. The Mangalagiri sarees are handwoven from fine cotton or silk and decorated with Zari work on the borders, giving them durability and a touch of elegance and ornateness. The Gadwal sarees are richly decorated brocade sarees with zari work on the borders and pallu, often depicting mythological motifs and floral designs. They are usually preferred in colours like gold, red, and green, inviting wealth and auspiciousness into one’s life. 

Women of Tamil Nadu dress themselves in the epitome of traditional attire for Akshaya Tritiya: the Kanchipuram saree. Made from pure mulberry silk, they feature elaborate motifs such as stripes, checks, floral patterns, and temple designs created in zari work. Maharashtrian women dress themselves in the kaleidoscopic Paithani sarees. The saree features various peacock motifs that are created through a time-consuming process of interlocking multiple threads while weaving. 

In West Bengal, Gujarat, and Maharashtra, men usually wear Dhoti and Kurta. In West Bengal, men usually wear a Dhoti, which is white, and pair it with a Kurta in pastel shadesa. In Maharashtra, the Dhoti is also known as a Dhotar and is unique, with a typical folding style that enhances the Zari work. The Kurta is also lightly embroidered and often made from cotton or silk. They add a pheta or turban, which is made from silk or cotton and usually saffron-coloured. In Gujarat, the Dhoti and Kurta feature elaborate mirror work and traditional embroidery that testify to the region's rich textile traditions.

In Odisha, men add a Gamucha to the traditional Dhoti-Kurta combination. The Dhoti in Odisha often features Ikat patterns and is uniquely draped to provide ease of movement. The Gamucha is a traditional handloom towel used as a scarf or headgear. It is typically made from cotton found in the region and showcases colourful striped patterns.

The Pancha, similar to a Dhoti, is worn by the men of Andhra Pradesh. It is a piece of cloth tied around the waist, often made of silk or cotton. It is paired with a Kurta that features intricate embroidery and is made from luxurious fabrics like silk. In Tamil Nadu, men wear a Veshti paired with a shirt or Angavastram. The Veshti is similar to a Dhoti, usually off-white or cream-coloured, with an intricately handwoven border made of gold threads. The Angavastram is an upper garment which is draped over the shoulders.

A festival that symbolises auspicious beginnings and eternal prosperity, Akshaya Tritiya is celebrated with grandeur, manifested in the form of exquisite traditional jewellery and accessories worn by men and women across India. 

Akshaya Tritiya is a day when all married women are seen wearing their Mangalsutra, which is made of black beads and gold and symbolises the marital status and the well-being of their husband. The Mangalsutra is believed to ward off evil and protect the marriage from negative energies. Most women across different states in India add grace to their facial features by wearing a nath or nose ring. It is usually made of gold and embellished with diamonds, gemstones, or pearls. It often features delicate filigree work. An indispensable piece of jewellery for a woman is her chooda or bangles. They are made of different materials in different states, often gold, lac or glass. Women wear these bangles in a spectrum of colours, usually coordinating them with the colour of their outfits. In the state of Maharashtra, green glass bangles hold strong cultural importance in regard to the celebrations of Akshaya Tritiya.

Women adorn their foreheads with a maangtikka . Usually consisting of a central pendant attached to a chain, it is made of gold and precious stones and designed with floral or geometric patterns. The maangtikka is a symbol of the third eye or spiritual wisdom.

Women also wear jhumkas, which are made of metalwork techniques such as filigree, Minakari, and stonework. They come in various sizes, are often found with intricate carvings, and are decorated with stones and pearls. Since most women wear sarees during Akshaya Tritiya, the kamarband is an essential accessory to hold the attire while accentuating one’s waist. It is usually made using traditional techniques like Kundan and Polki.  Women adorn their feet with delicate anklets, also known as payal, commonly made of silver. 

Men are usually seen wearing a thick bracelet or kada around their wrists. Usually made of gold or silver, it symbolises masculinity and strength. Wearing gold or silver chains is a common tradition men follow during Akshaya Tritiya. They often feature religious symbols such as Om and Rudraksha beads. Since the day is celebrated as an auspicious day for new beginnings, astrology plays a strong role in certain rituals. Men often wear rings with stones like emeralds, rubies, and sapphires based on their astrological significance to attract luck and prosperity.

Akshaya Tritiya truly transforms the landscape of most of the states of India as homes and communities are decorated vibrantly to celebrate this festival of abundance.

Every home in India sees a Toran hung above doorways and windows to invite prosperity and ward off evil spirits. Traditionally made from fresh mango leaves, marigold flowers, and fabric, these Torans are essential for Akshaya Tritiya. Mango leaves are traditionally preferred because of their power to absorb negative energy. Marigold flowers are believed to be a symbol of purity and devotion. Similar to a Toran, a Bandhanwar is usually seen hung at the entrance of homes, too. It is often made using bells, mirrors, and beats, along with flowers and leaves. They are all intricately threaded together and believed to protect the home from negative energy. Rangoli is also an important piece of decor, usually made using rice, flower petals, and coloured powder at the entrance of homes and in courtyards. Traditional motifs like flowers, religious symbols like the lotus, and geometric patterns are usually manifested with great detail to welcome guests and dietes. In Southern India, particularly Kerala, Pookalam is a local flower arrangement made on the floor. Different flowers like jasmine, marigold, and hibiscus are used as a tribute to the divine.

A metal pot filled with water and decorated with mango leaves with a coconut placed on the top, called a Kalash, is often placed at the entrance of homes and in prayer rooms. It is usually made of copper or brass and is filled with holy water from the river Ganga. The mouth of the pot is enhanced with fresh mango leaves, and a coconut is placed on top of the pot, usually wrapped in ritualistic red or yellow cloth. 

An Uruli is a large and shallow brass vessel used as a space for floating decorations. It is often filled with water, flowers, and floating candles and kept on tables around the house to create a serene and welcoming atmosphere.

The festival of Akshaya Tritiya reflects the unity and diversity across India. It serves as a day for renewed hope and positivity, inspiring people to embrace life‘s journey with optimism and faith. The celebrations of Akshaya Tritiya, with its unique rituals and symbolism, are part of a larger tapestry of cultural occasions that bring communities together in joy and spirituality.