No place for negativities!

Today India celebrates not one but two major festivals. Id-ul-fitr and Akshaya Tritiya. This is the beauty of a diversity of our country, which, people believe is the symbol of unity in a world torn by war and pandemic.

Eid is celebrated after a month-long fasting, to regulate, more importantly the mind than the body. The cravings of mortals are overcome by rigorous abstaining from any food intake, the more religious not even sipping a drop of water from sunrise to sunset. The Iftars are after fasting, which the politicians have merely turned into photo ops. The culmination of the fasting month ends with a visit to the mosques, praying and meeting friends and relatives in a spirit of peace and gaiety. Nick named, sweet Eid, the Muslim community feasts in sweet dishes made of vermicelli.

Akshaya Tritiya the third Lunar day in the month Vaisakha is perhaps one of the most important days in the Hindu religious calendar.  Akshaya itself means unlimited, This was the day of birth of Parasurama, the sixth avatar of Vishnu. This day Lakshmi annointed Lord Kubera as the treasurer of the heavens. Sage Vyasa started dictating Mahabharata, which was written by Ganesha. Lord Surya gave Akshaya patra to the Pandavas, who were driven to the forest. Tretayuga began this day. Krishna went this day to Kusela (Sudama’s) house. Adi shankaracharya recited the Kanakatara Stotra today. The work to begin the holy Juggannath chariot begins today. In many Krishna temples like Madan Mohan in Orissa, the sandal journey begins today. Ganga devi descended this day on earth. The Gangotri and the Yamunotri temples are opened after a long winter closure today called the Abhijit Muhurat of Akshaya Tritiya.

In Jainism, Akshaya Tritiya commemorates the first Tirthankra, ending his one-year asceticism by consuming sugarcane juice poured into his cupped hands. Fasting and ascetic austerities are marked by Jains, particularly at Jain pilgrimage sites.

On this day, Jains who observe the year-long alternative day fasting known as varshi-tap finish their tapasya  by doing parana, breaking the fast by drinking sugarcane juice).

Where is the place for anger, stone-pelting, or attacks amid such holy thoughts and deeds?

Jai Hind!

Sampath Kumar

Intrépide Voix