Akshaya Navami Date 2024: Rituals And Significance – GHdays.in
Akshaya Navami marks a significant Hindu ritual observed on the ninth day of the bright fortnight of the month of Kartik in the traditional Hindu calendar. This sacred occasion, with parallels to the auspicious Akshaya Tritiya festival, falls between October and November in the Gregorian calendar. The name “Akshaya” symbolizes that the rewards reaped from any devotional or charitable acts on this day remain eternal, benefiting the observer not only in their present life but in future incarnations as well.
Celebrated two days prior to Dev Uthani Ekadashi, Akshaya Navami is believed to signify the beginning of the Satyug era in Hindu legends, earning it the title “Satya Yugadi.” This day is highly conducive for engaging in acts of charity and righteousness. In various regions, Akshaya Navami is also known as Amla Navami, where the Amla tree is revered as the divine abode of gods and goddesses.
West Bengal observes this day as Jagaddhatri Puja, venerating the Goddess Jagaddhatri with profound devotion. Additionally, performing the Parikrama of Mathura-Vrindavan on Akshaya Navami is considered exceptionally auspicious, drawing Hindu devotees from far and wide to partake in the blessings bestowed on this sacred day.
Akshaya Navami Date 2024: November 10, Sunday
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Akshaya Navami Date and Time 2024
On Sunday, November 10, 2024, Akshaya Navami will be observed. The auspicious period known as Akshaya Navami Purvahna Time will span from 06:43 to 12:22, lasting a duration of 5 hours and 39 minutes. The Navami Tithi begins at 10:45 PM on November 9, 2024, and concludes at 09:01 PM on November 10, 2024. It is a time of spiritual significance and blessings, marking a period of abundance and eternal prosperity.
| Akshaya Navami Date 2024 | Sunday, 10th November |
| Akshaya Navami Date 2025 | Friday, 31st October |
| Akshaya Navami Date 2026 | Wednesday, 18th November |
| Akshaya Navami Date 2028 | Thursday, 26th October |
| Akshaya Navami Date 2029 | Wednesday, 14th of November |
Story of Akshaya Navami
In the ancient city of Kashi, there resided a couple who yearned for a child but were unable to conceive despite their fervent prayers to the divine. One day, a neighbor proposed a drastic solution to the wife – to offer a child as a sacrifice to Lord Bhairav in hopes of receiving a blessing in return. Though the husband vehemently opposed this suggestion, the wife proceeded with the sacrificial act by pushing an innocent girl into a well, leading to her own descent into sin and affliction with leprosy.
Upon learning of his wife’s grave transgression, the husband admonished her, highlighting the heinous nature of cow, Brahmin, and child slaughter that had brought about her suffering. Encouraged by her husband, the woman sought solace and redemption from Mother Ganga, confessing her misdeed and pleading for forgiveness and healing. Mother Ganga prescribed a penance involving worship of the amla tree on the auspicious Navami day of Kartik Shukla Paksha, along with the consumption of amla fruit.
Following Mother Ganga’s guidance meticulously, the woman underwent the prescribed rituals and observed fasting, eventually finding herself cured of leprosy and blessed with a long-awaited child. This transformative experience led to the establishment of a tradition wherein people commemorate this event through fasting and rituals on Amla Navami, marking the significance of redemption and divine grace in the face of repentance.
Rituals during Akshaya Navami
- During the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Navami, followers rise early to cleanse themselves in the holy waters of the Ganges and other sacred rivers as the sun begins its ascent. Subsequently, a priest leads them through intricate ceremonies and rituals held on the riverbanks.
- The area designated for worship is meticulously tidied, and thirty squares are drawn using turmeric. These squares, referred to as ‘Kotha,’ are then filled with assorted pulses, grains, and edibles. The worship ceremony follows, accompanied by the chanting of Vedic hymns. This particular ritual on Akshaya Navami is enacted to invoke a bountiful harvest and ensure a continuous supply of sustenance.
- Women uphold a rigorous fast on Akshaya Navami, abstaining from consuming any grains throughout the day while engaging in devotional songs and hymns.
- In certain localities, reverence is paid to the Indian Gooseberry tree known as ‘Amla.’ Consumption of Amla fruits on this day is believed to fortify one’s well-being, and individuals are encouraged to donate these fruits as well.
- Charity holds immense significance on this day, with the conviction that benevolent acts undertaken during Akshaya Navami endure eternally. The discreet contribution of alms on this day is particularly revered, with individuals urged to donate generously according to their means to those in need.
Significance of Akshaya Navami
Akshaya Navami holds immense significance in Hindu culture, with devout celebrations resonating throughout the nation. Devotees believe that offering prayers on this auspicious day with unwavering faith brings bountiful rewards. It is trusted that prayers made on Akshaya Navami can bring about the realization of all desires and set one on the path to ultimate liberation, or ‘moksha’. Engaging in acts of charity on this occasion is believed to bestow enduring benefits for generations to come. Additionally, Akshaya Navami is also commemorated as ‘Kushmanda Navami’, commemorating the triumph of Lord Vishnu over the demon ‘Kushmanda’ and the preservation of righteousness.