Celebrate Lord Vishnu's wedding

BANGALORE: It's the season of festivals, and Thursday is celebrated as Tulasi Vivaha (wedding of goddess Tulasi). Falling on Kartika Shukla Dwadasi, the festival signifies the day when Lord Vishnu wakes up from his slumber and later marries Tulasi, who was churned out of the ocean of milk on Ashadha Shukla Ekadasi day.
Legend says that Vishnu was tired after a long battle with the demon Shankasura and after killing him, he goes into a deep sleep in his ocean of milk.After the much-needed rest, he wakes up on Kartika Shukla Dwadasi to resume his duties of protecting the universe once again. Hence, the day is also celebrated as Utthana Dwadasi - the day the lord wakes up.
On this day, Hindus worship the Tulsi plant. The tulasi pot is cleaned and decorated with rangoli, turmeric, kumkum, flowers and branches of gooseberry plant. Lamps are lit around the plant and an idol of Lord Krishna is placed in the middle. After offering flowers, fruits and milk to Lord Krishna, families sing praising Krishna and Tulasi. They pray for health, wealth, peace and prosperity. Later sweets, primarily made of beaten rice, jaggery and coconut, are offered. Children burst crackers.
It is believed that such a practice will help the head of the family attain moksha and get relieved from the cycle of death and rebirth.