Source: edition.cnn.com
INDIA, May 17, 2010: Tens of thousands of Indian couples tied the knot on Sunday May 16, one of the luckiest days in the Hindu calendar. “There are 50,000 weddings happening today” in Mumbai alone, said wedding planner Jarret D’Abreo of Marry Me. “The wedding that we are working on has been booked eight months in advance,” explained Candice Pereira, the company’s creative head and co-founder.
There are only a few lucky dates per year in the Hindu calendar. Sunday’s was called Akshaya Tritiya. “All the stars are aligned during this day. Whatever offerings and work you do on this day will go right. It’s one day of the year which will bring immense good luck,” Indian astrologer R.K. Sharma said. The exact date of the festival is based on the alignment of the moon, the stars and the planets. “Whatever is celebrated during this day — be it purchasing a car or a house or gold or even getting married — brings good luck and that effect is multiplied. It’s the most auspicious day of the year,” said Sharma.
The festival is driving up sales in India’s jewelry shops, one merchant said. Vummidi Bagaru Jewellers had about twice as much daily trade as usual, and could reach three times as much, partner Jiphendra Vummidi said from Chennai. People made plans in advance to make their purchases on Akshaya, he said. “They’re purchases they wanted to get for a wedding or an occasion — jewelry predominantly, but bullion coins are also being bought,” he said. “It’s a day when you could do anything good and it’s supposed to help you do that good through the year,” he said of Akshaya.