During Adhik Maas, Maharashtrian families shower sons-in-law with gifts & blessings

THANE: For Maharashtrian families, this is the time to shower their sons-in-law with loads of gifts and love. This is the festival of Adhik Maas, which comes once in three years.
Adhik Maas literally means an extra month that is added to the Hindu lunar calendar. While Adhik Maas holds a deep religious significance for the Hindu community, astronomers claim that it was originally created to maintain uniformity between the solar and lunar calendar.
"There is a difference of 11 days each year in the solar and lunar calendar. The solar calendar has 11 days extra in a year, which leads to a mismatch with the day count in the lunar calendar. To maintain a balance between the solar and lunar calendar an extra month is added once in three years. This is called Adhik Maas,’’ said well-known astronomer D K Soman.
Meanwhile, residents feel it is a month dedicated to lord Vishnu. Vasant Vihar resident Ramya Kulkarni said, "The scriptures state that each month, except Adhik Maas, is assigned to a god. Lord Vishnu then stepped in and took the responsibility of this extra month. So, he is worshipped during this month. Sons-in-law are treated as an avatar of Vishnu. So they are showered with gifts.’’ The additional month began on June 17 and will end on July 16. Traditional gifts are handed over to the sons-in-law. The elders also shower the couple with blessings.
Sangita Sukhi (50), a resident of Vijay Nagari, said, "We invited our son-in-law and daughter for dinner and gifted him a silver diya. I also offered him 33 sweets like anarse (a sweet made of rice and jaggery) and batasha (sugar sweet). I even gifted my daughter a silver toe ring.’’