Akshaya Tritiya: Auspicious day to buy gold

         Hyderabad/Bangalore: People across the country thronged jewellery and goldsmiths' shops on the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya. According to Hindu traditions Akshaya Tritiya is the most auspicious day for buying gold. Akshaya Tritiya, the third day of the bright half of Vaishakh, is considered one of the four most sacred days of the year. The word Akshaya means that which never diminishes - hence beginnings made or valuables bought on this day are considered certain to bring luck and success. Buying gold and jewellery is a popular activity on "Akshaya Tritiya", as gold is considered as the ultimate symbol of wealth and prosperity. Customers, especially women, in Hyderabad, thronged shops to buy jewellery. "Buying gold...it is said that on this particular day, Maha Lakshmi is visiting every household. It is believed that if you buy gold on this day, then all year there will be wealth and prosperity," said Usha, a customer. On this day jewellers keep their shops open well into twilight time to entertain their buyers. "Since the last 15 days, the sales have picked up to 40 per cent. If you see the crowd, then you will see that it has increased a lot," said Pramesh Chandra, a shopkeeper. Meanwhile, women in Bangalore also bought gold on this auspicious day. "It is been told that it is very auspicious to buy. Whatever we buy today will be multiplied. It is just a sacred belief that most of the women believe in," said Renuka, a customer. Gold jewellery forms an important part of Hindu marriages, as parents gift their daughters the metal for financial security. They consider gold an auspicious metal and like to buy or gift it during religious festivals. According to reports, Indian households have an estimated 15,000 tonnes of gold accumulated over generations. India, the world's largest gold importer, buys an average of more than a tonne of gold a day to meet two-thirds of its annual gold needs of 600 to 700 tonnes.
May 11, 2005

Guruvayoor temple revokes dress code

          Thiruvananthapuram: The famous Guruvayoor temple in Kerala will revoke a new dress code that it introduced last month following pressure from devotees. Guruvayoor temple is India's second richest shrine after Andhra Pradesh's Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanam (TTD). The temple rules introduced in April said that for security reasons men would have to enter the sanctum sanctorum without their shirts. Originally, male devotees were allowed to take off their shirts and sling it over their shoulders. Another temple order banning children above the age of five from wearing short pants has also been withdrawn after protests from devotees. Though female devotees have been demanding the right to wear dresses of their choice, the temple authorities continue to insist that they either wear saris or pavadas (long skirts) within the complex. Pilgrims from other parts of the country have registered complaints about the uncomfortable dress code for women, but for the moment, the status quo remains. Only Hindus are allowed into the temple to offer obeisance to Lord Guruvayoor. It may be recalled that in 2001, a complete purification rite was performed after senior Congress leader Vayalar Ravi organised his son's wedding to a Christian woman within the complex. Located 29 Kms North-West Of Thrissur, Guruvayoor is popularly known as the Dwaraka of the South and is dedicated to Lord Krishna. It is said to be the most Important Hindu pilgrim centre in Kerala The walls of the sanctum sanctorum of the temple are inlaid with exquisite mural paintings and carvings. In Kerala, this is probably the only temple that hosts the maximum number of marriages and rice feeding ceremonies (the ritual first meal for infants). It was also the hub of the 'Guruvayoor Sathyagraha', a historic movement demanding temple entry rights for the 'so called' lower castes. The origins of the historic temple is shrouded in mystery. According to local belief, the temple was created by 'Guru', the 'preceptor of the gods' and 'Vayu', the 'god of winds'. The eastern 'nada' is the main entrance to the shrine. In the 'Chuttambalam' (outer enclosure) is a 33.5-m tall gold-plated 'Dwajastambham' (flagpost). There is also a 7 m high 'Deepastambham' (pillar of lamps), whose thirteen circular receptacles provide a truly brillant spectacle, when lit. The square 'Sreekovil' is the sacred sanctum sanctorum of the temple, housing the main deity. Within the temple, there are also the images of Ganapathy, Sree Ayyappa and Edathedathy Kavil Bhagavathy. Punnathoorkotta, which is at a distance of 2 kms from Guruvayoor is home of 50 temple elephants, offers unusual spectacles of the gentle pachyderm.
May 11, 2005

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