Tulsi vivah heralds wedding season, celebrates marriage

Panaji: Eleven days after the vibrant festival of Diwali comes Tulsi Vivah, the sacred Hindu festival that continues to keep Hindu households in the festive spirit. It marks the symbolic marriage of Goddess Tulsi with Lord Vishnu, represented by his Shaligram form. The auspicious wedding festival begins on Ekadashi, and lasts until the full moon or Pournima of Kartik.

The ‘Tulsi’ plant is regarded as one of the holiest household plants in Hindu house and is revered as a goddess.

Naguesh Rao Sardesai, artist and art commentator, said the symbolic wedding marks the beginning of the wedding season for Hindus in the state. “It also signifies the end of Chaturmas, when Lord Vishnu is believed to go for a long sleep and wakes up on Prabodhani Ekadashi, the eleventh day of the eighth lunar month, Kartik. Traditionally, it is celebrated using the sacred Shaligram stone and Tulsi getting wedded,” said Sardesai. He added that Hindu women observe a fast before Tulsi Vivah commences.

Sardesai said that with changing times, some rituals also change. “The stone needs to be worshipped and taken care of every day. This was possible when people lived in joint families. Now, people have nuclear families and find ways to keep faith with convenience. So, instead of the Shaligram stone, families now use a Krishna statue along with the Tulsi plant,” he said.

In many parts of Goa, Lord Vishnu is represented by the artistically carved stick of Lea indica, locally known as the Dino or Jino, decorated as the groom for the marriage ceremony. The Tulsi Vrindavan is decorated like a bride with strings of vibrant yellow and orange marigold flowers. A stem of sugarcane is also planted inside the pedestal along with Indian gooseberry (avalo) and tamarind. Headgears made from banana stems are tied during the marriage ceremony to the Tulsi as well as Dino plants.

All marriage rituals are performed on this occasion, including the chanting of the mangalashtaka that accords a sense of sanctity.