Stop Child Marriage, Celebrate True Prosperity This Akshaya Tritiya

Fifteen-year-old Radhika from Gonda was coerced into marriage a week before her courageous act of confiding in her teacher, who intervened to halt the marriage and support her education instead. Unfortunately, Radhika's story is not unique, as approximately 1.5 million girls like her are married off in India every year before they reach 18.

Akshaya Tritiya, a significant Hindu observance, holds cultural and religious importance in India. Traditionally associated with new beginnings, wealth, and prosperity, this auspicious day has, regrettably, witnessed instances of child marriage ruining its purity.

Several states including Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, etc., persist in solemnizing marriages during Akshaya Tritiya due to its perceived auspiciousness.

Nevertheless, Child Marriage Free India which is a nationwide campaign, supported by 161 NGOs, actively collaborates with state governments to prevent such occurrences. Child marriage deprives children of their childhood, education, and opportunities, and should never be associated with Akshaya Tritiya.

Akshaya Tritiya symbolizes abundance and prosperity, believed to bless ventures initiated on this day with success. Hence, it's a time for individuals to invest in their future, whether by starting businesses, making financial investments, or pursuing personal endeavors. Child marriage contradicts this ethos of prosperity, hindering the potential of young individuals, particularly girls, and entangling them in cycles of poverty and cruelty.

This occasion also underscores the value of education and empowerment. Lord Parasurama, whose birth anniversary is celebrated on Akshaya Tritiya, symbolizes wisdom, knowledge, and righteousness in Hindu mythology. Thus, the day serves as a reminder of the crucial role education plays in shaping a bright and prosperous future. Child marriage, by denying children, especially girls, the chance to pursue education, chokes their potential for growth and empowerment.

In essence, Akshaya Tritiya should be celebrated as a day of hope, empowerment, and prosperity, free from the shadow of child marriage. By championing education, gender equality, and healthy relationships, we can ensure that every child has the opportunity to thrive and fulfill their potential.

As Bhuwan Ribhu, a lawyer and activist rightly emphasizes, "If we fail to protect our children, nothing else we do in life matters."

Paroma Bhattacharya Senior Communication Professional