KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA: Couples planning to tie the knot this year are already looking at 08-08-08 as an auspicious and very special date to make their big day even more memorable.

But is the once-in-a-century date of Aug 8 really a good day to start your new life together?

According to Hindu astrology, there is no muhurtham (auspicious time for a wedding) on that date. And it falls in the seventh month of the lunar calendar, the month of the Hungry Ghost when the gates of hell are said to be open.

Indian astrologer K. Shanmugavel said 08-08-08 was not recommended for Hindu weddings. The 64-year-old with 25 years of experience cautioned couples not to choose this date as they would not be happy in the future.

"Generally, the number 8 is perceived as risky because whatever begins on the date 8 doesn't end well."

However, he said, if couples insisted on getting married on that day, they should carefully check their astrological compatibility.

"The marriages of incompatible couples could end in divorce. But for compatible couples, the effect will not be so disastrous, maybe just minor misunderstandings between them."

Shanmugavel said the time period to avoid having auspicious events are Feb 13 to March 12 (Maasi), July 17 to Aug 16 (Aadi), Sept 17 to Oct 16 (Purataasi) and Dec 17 to Jan 16 (Margali).

He said it would be better for couples to get married on the other hot date this year, 20-08-08.

Kerala-born astrologer G. Suresh said on 08-08-08, most marriages would be inter-caste or inter-racial.

On that date, the sun is positioned in Cancer, so the father of the bride will be of a different race than the father of the groom.

According to Chinese astrology, the fact that 08-08-08 falls during the Hungry Ghost month is not a hindrance to those who plan to tie the knot, says feng shui expert Joey Yap.

"The month of the 'ghost' is more a cultural belief than an astrological consideration.

"Aug 8 contains many positive auxiliary stars, including the Sky Happiness Star. So it is useable."

He also said the selection of the date following Chinese astrology did not consider "cultural taboos", but focused on the stars present on a specific date and time.

"What that means is, stars that are present in the sky on that particular day will determine the suitability of an activity such as marriage.

"Stars like the Heavenly Virtue Star, Three Harmony Star and the Marriage Star all point to happiness and success in partnership and relationship."

He added that Aug 18 this year would be a day of destruction because the element of that day is in conflict with the month.

"August is a metal month, but the day is a wood day. Just use the good days and things will work out much better."

Yap added that on good days people get excited by different types of energy, like producing positive energy to get a favourable outcome.

"The hour of the day is also as important as different hours of the day can be used to achieve different things.

"For marriage, if the ceremony is a cultural or spiritual one, then a good hour is chosen," said Yap, who is also the founder and master trainer at the Mastery Academy of Metaphysics.