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Tulsi Vivah is celebrated in the month of Kartik as per the Hindu calendar
Tulsi Vivah is celebrated by the Hindus
Significance
Tulsi Vivah is a traditional marriage of the Tulsi that is a holy plant with the Hindu god Vishnu. Tulsi is an incarnation of goddess Mahalakshmi and Krishna is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. This marriage is performed on the 11th day or the 12th day in the month of Kartik as per the Hindu lunar calendar. This wedding signifies the end of monsoon and beginning of the wedding season. Tulsi is considered as goddess in Hindu religion and most of the time well known as the consort of Lord Vishnu. Tulsi means that "one which is incomparable", tulsi has the spiritually inspiring qualities. There are some amazing powers of healing in this plant. She was habitually called as the "Vishnupriya", favorite of Lord Vishnu.
Legends say the Tulsi plant was a woman named Vrinda. A demon king Jalandhar had married her. Vrinda was holy and devoted to Lord Vishnu, her consort became unbeatable. According to the Hindu trinity the destroyer lord Shiva was also not able to defeat him. So Shiva asks for lord Vishnu who was preserver as per the Hindu trinity to find for a solution. Lord Vishnu masked himself as Jalandhar and desecrated Vrinda. Her chastity was ruined and then Jalandhar was killed by the hands of Lord Shiva. After knowing this Vrinda cursed lord Vishnu to turn black and he would be separated from his consort. Vrinda finally burnt herself on her husband's funeral as she was ashamed of herself.
And Vishnu was turned into a black Shaligrams stone. In his next incarnation of Rama he was separated by his beloved wife Sita. There after Vishnu in the form of Shaligram marries tulsi on Probodhini Ekadashi.
Another legend says that Lakshmi is the chief consort of Lord Vishnu slew a demon on this day and stayed as a plant on earth forever on this day itself.
Celebration of Tulsi Vivah
The marriage of Tulsi with Lord Vishnu reminds you of the traditional Hindu wedding. This wedding takes place at home or even at temples. There is a fast that has to be observed on this occasion that continuous till the evening when the ceremony starts. There is a mandap that is built in front of the house where the tulsi plant is planted. This place is at the centre which is brick plaster called as Tulsi Vrindavana. People say that the soul of Vrinda is residing inside the plant at night and it leaves early in the morning. This bride is decorated with sari and ornaments and the groom is in the form of Vishnu or Krishna or even Balarama or a Shaligram stone that is used more frequently. People follow all the customs of a marriage ceremony of the Hindu religion.
Traditional food
Famous dishes prepared on this occasion are the sweet poha, Maida Burfi, radish rice, rice kheer, puran poli and kaju Burfi.
This is considered as a grand festival for the Hindus and has a lot of significance in Hindu religion. This is a popular festival that is related to Tulsi plant and Lord Vishnu.
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