Tulsi Lagna/Marriage

Kartik Dwadashi – According to Hindu Panchang a day of the kartik month is set over many years to perform the traditional marriage of Tulsi Devi and Lord Krishna. Tulsi, a medicinal herb, is worshiped according to Hindu Mythology as a sacred entity. It is believed that Tulsi Devi is married to Purushottama Bhagavan Krishna. Even today, we the people of India water the plant, light up the diya near it and worship Tulsi.

As a part of festivity celebration, all the members of the family were having set duties. Mom, great cook as usual, was preparing delicious holigi’s to offer as Naivaidya. Dad just like a priest/poojari, was following all Vedic rituals for the marriage ceremony. Brother as Multitasker ran around to bring all items needed for the wedding and my duty was to decorate Tulsi Vrundavanam.

A day prior to the Tulsi Lagna, Tulsi ‘Katte’ or Vrundavanam was painted with red oil paint, edges were highlighted with dots of white oil paint and a sticker written with ‘Kartik Radha Damodar prasanna’ was pasted. Next day sugar cane stocks and her favourite marigold flowers were offered to Vrundavanam. Tamarind and gooseberry were kept as its base. We dressed her up like a perfect bride.

It was dusk, the perfect muhurtam for the marriage ritual to start. Everybody in the house gathered near Tulsi Vrundavanam. Dad was chanting scared mantras, all of a sudden the mangal dhwani of Shehnai started. The sound of Shehnai blended with ritual in such a way that marriage was sacrimanted. Out of happiness brother gave extra ten rupees to shehnai person for his timely arrival and recital. The Shehnai person went next house to play it. The tone of Shehnai brought blessing in the atmosphere. 

Every house in the colony used to celebrate this festival in a grand way and there was a healthy competition between houses to showcase their creativity and enthusiasm to celebrate the traditional wedding of goddess Tulsi. This has helped me to come up with the new ideas every year.

Capture of a newlywed couple/ Kartik Month /2013-14

Now she is not just Tulsi, she is ‘Krishna Tulsi’

Close view of a Traditional Arrangement:

Beautiful green beetle leaves and supari nuts were arranged in semi circular fashion. In addition to it orange marigolds were kept on each leaf giving colorful contrast. To make it more traditional, rangoli patterns were drawn which were looking picture perfect.

Attractive sight of a bright and white free hand rangoli

drawn on the floor near Tulsi Vrundavanam.

About to lit shiny brass diyas and orange marigolds gave warm festival feel to the place.

Goddess Tulsi will always bestow her blessings on you and your family.