It’s Akshaya Tritiya! The day people buy gold, start new ventures or donate to charity as it is believed to be a day that brings prosperity and good luck. Let’s look into the significance of performing kind acts such as serving meals this day and how it can benefit you in return.
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Akshaya Tritiya, also known as Akha Teej, is an important festival celebrated by Hindus and Jains. As it is believed to be a day of prosperity, new beginnings and good luck, many people buy gold, start a new business or make important investments on this day hoping to reap huge benefits. Performing charity is also a main part, as this festival is not just about acquiring wealth but also about sharing.
The underlying spirit of this festival is to be kind and generous as every second of this day is considered auspicious. It is believed that your good deeds on this day will return to you doubled. So, it is important to perform kind acts and focus on sharing positivity.
Akshaya Tritiya – Mythological Significance
‘Akshaya’ means inexhaustible and ‘Tritiya’ signifies the third day as it occurs on the third day of Shukla Paksha, in the month of Vaishaka, according to the Hindu Lunar calendar. There are many mythological references surrounding this festival. These include:
• Lord Krishna gifted Akshaya Patra to Draupadi
• Sudama’s visit to Lord Krishna which brought him unending prosperity
• Birth of Annapoorna Devi, the goddess of food
• Lord Parashuram’s birthday
• Beginning of Treta Yuga
• River Ganga descended from heaven to earth
• Veda Vyasa started reciting Mahabharata to Lord Ganesha
Among all these, the one from the Mahabharata where Draupadi receives the Akshaya Patra from Lord Krishna is well-known. This miraculous vessel gave an unending supply of food to Pandavas during their exile in the forest. Another popular story is in Bhagavata Purana where Sudama, a poor Brahmin visits his childhood friend Lord Krishna with a simple gift of chipped rice. Though Sudama didn’t talk to him of his struggles, Krishna understood his silent suffering and blessed him with great prosperity.
Feed Children, Reflect the Spirit of Giving this Akshaya Tritiya
The common thread that ties both these stories together is the gift of meals. Many Hindu scriptures describe the act of feeding as the highest form of virtue. When Sudama offered food, he was blessed with abundance. When Pandavas were in need, they received a vessel that ensured no one went hungry. These stories remind us that the act of feeding has the power to change lives. Doing good, no matter how small, creates ripples of goodness.
In this busy life, as people are engaged with several duties and responsibilities, they often tend to overlook the struggles of their fellow beings. Just as Lord Krishna understood the unspoken pain of his childhood friend, let us also try to understand the silent hardships of millions of children who are forced to make a choice between food and education.
Akshaya Patra – An NGO Aims to Serve Unending Mid-Day Meals
Named after a legendary vessel of abundance, Akshaya Patra is an NGO in India that works as an implementing partner of the Government of India’s PM POSHAN Abhiyaan (Mid-Day Meal Programme or MDM). With a vision to ensure No child in India shall be deprived of education because of hunger, the organisation is currently serving mid-day meals to children in more than 23,000 schools across 16 states and 3 UTs. Through their kitchens present in 78 locations, the NGO strives to reach every child, even in the most difficult terrains, and protect their right to nutrition and education. Akshaya Patra’s mid-day meals adhere to the local palate and thus, enhance children’s school lunch experience.
MDM has shown improvement in
• Enrollment rate
• Attendance
• Academic performance
• Retention rate
• Nutritional status of children
• Women empowerment
• Social inclusion
The transparency and accountability the NGO holds is widely acclaimed. Winning the ICAI Gold Shield Award for seven consecutive years is a validation of the same. It became the only NGO inducted into the ICAI Hall of Fame, which further establishes it as one of the most trusted NGOs in India.
How can you help?
Fighting classroom hunger is a must-win battle. For this, Akshaya Patra needs the support of people like you. Gift a meal today.
This Akshaya Tritiya, make a contribution of ₹1,500 to ensure meals to a child for an entire academic year. If you are unable to offer financial support at this time, you can still help them by spreading the word to your family, friends and relatives. It will help the NGO to bring more children under MDM. The support, whether it is monetary, volunteering or word of mouth is crucial and they create their own reverberations.
Feed children today. Help Akshaya Patra to remain true to its name.
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