Jharsuguda: BJD leader and 5T chairman VK Pandian staged ‘Akhi Muthi Anukul’ protest at Bijapali village in Brajrajnagar assembly constituency of Jharsuguda district on Friday. The occasion marks the beginning of agricultural operations on Akshaya Tritiya in Odisha. Akshaya Tritiya is one of the most auspicious days celebrated by Hindus and Jains across the country. This day symbolizes good fortune, success and good luck. Akshaya Tritiya is celebrated through prayers, alms and spirituality. This day is considered highly lucky for starting new businesses, investing and purchasing gold and real estate. The word ‘Akshay’ in Sanskrit means ‘never diminishing’. It is said that things started on this day extend forever with fewer obstacles in their way, and doing good deeds on this day brings eternal success and fortune. This festival is celebrated on the Tritiya Tithi of Shukla Paksha of Vaishakh month. According to the Gregorian calendar, this day falls sometime in April-May. It is said that on this day both the Sun and the Moon are at their planetary best. This day is also known as ‘Akha Teej’ and it was celebrated on 10th May this year. It is believed that the work done on this auspicious day is blessed by divine powers and always proves beneficial. It is considered an auspicious day to bring home precious metals like gold and silver for prosperity. This was the day when the third of the four Yugas – Treta Yuga began. Interestingly, this festival also marks the birth anniversary of Parashurama (the sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu). It is also believed that when the Pandavas were exiled to the forests, Lord Krishna handed over a container to Draupadi which contained food in abundance. Earlier, BJD leader and 5T president VK Pandian had expressed confidence that the party’s strike rate in the first phase of Lok Sabha and assembly elections on May 13 will be 90 per cent and a record will be created. He appealed to the people to have 100 percent strike rate in the next three phases of assembly elections. He said, “BJD will create records in the first phase of elections for four Lok Sabha and 28 assembly seats in Odisha. BJD will win these seats with 90 per cent strike rate.” He alleged that BJP has made fake promises in the election manifestos of 2014 and 2019. He said that he has come up with another manifesto for the 2024 elections and people do not trust his manifesto. In an exclusive interview with ANI, Pandian had hit out at the BJP, saying that if the party declares its CM candidate in the state against Naveen Patnaik, then BJD’s victory will be huge and the opposition party will not be able to cross even a single point. There will be simultaneous voting in four phases for the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in Odisha starting from May 13. In the first phase, voting will be held on twenty-eight assembly seats and four Lok Sabha seats.