Akshaya Tritiya, being one of the important Indian Hindu festivals, is celebrated with utmost joy all over India. This day is generally marked with buying of valuables like gold, silver and diamond or by investing in real estate. True to the cultural diversity in India, the observance of Akshay Tritiya also differs from state to state. Let’s check how the entire India celebrates Akshaya Tritiya:

Akshaya Tritiya in North India:
The whole of north India celebrates this day as the birth of sage Parashurama, the sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. On Akshaya Tritiya Kedarnath, Badrinath and Char Dham temples are opened for the pilgrims. Many devotees keep a day long fast to pay homage to Lord Vishnu and Lord Kubera- God of Wealth. A dip in sacred Ganges River makes this day more auspicious for devotees. As part of the ritual, offering of barley in sacred fire and donating money and food are also observed.

Akshaya Tritiya in Jat Community:
The Jat community celebrates Akshay Tritiya as “Akha Teej”. As per the custom, a male member of the Jat family heads towards his field early in the morning with his shovel. On the way to his fields if he encounters birds or animals, it is considered as a good omen indicating good crop and rain.

Akshaya Tritiya in West Bengal:
Akshaya Tritiya is considered to be an important day especially for businessmen. They celebrate this day by performing the ceremony of “Hal Khata”. This ceremony involves offering pooja to Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi and starting of new audit book and accounts.

Akshaya Tritiya in Orissa:
In Orissa Akshaya Tritiya is mainly celebrated as an agricultural festival. After taking bath in early morning, farmers wear new clothes and in new baskets carry seeds to their fields. The seeds are sown in the fields after offering prayers to Goddess Lakshmi for bumper crop. At the end of the day a completely vegetarian feast is prepared in every home. In western Orissa Akshay Tritiya is called as “Muthi Chhuan” and eating of green leafy vegetable is forbidden on this day. The famous Lord Jagannath’s Chandan Yatra also begins on this day.

Akshaya Tritiya in South India:
In south India this day is marked by performing Shri Maha Vishnu Pooja and Lakshmi Kubera Homa. Some devotees also perform Goddess Lakshmi pooja on this day. Visiting to various temples and offering food and clothes to poor are other rituals done by people of south India.

Akshaya Tritiya in Jainism:
Besides being auspicious day for Hindus, Akshaya Tritiya holds importance in Jainism also. On Akshaya Tritiya, Jain devotees conclude their Varshi Tap i.e. fasting alternate day throughout the year. According to Jain religion, the 1st Jain Tirthankar, Lord Shri Rishab Dev Ji or Adinath Ji concluded his Varshi Tap with sugarcane juice on Akshay Tritiya. Jain devotees conclude their fast in one of the Jain pilgrimages (Hastinapur, Sammet Shikhar ji or Palitana) on Akshaya Tritiya.

Akshaya Tritiya in Rajasthan:
In Rajasthan Akshaya Tritiya is called as Aakha Teej. This day is considered auspicious for performing marriages among many communities in Rajasthan. Thousands of under-age children are married on this day creating a headache for State Government officials.