Tulsi Vivah is considered highly sacred and auspicious in Hindu tradition. The plant of Tulsi is considered to be incarnation of Mahalakshmi who was born as Vrinda. It is the ceremonial marriage of the Tulsi plant with Lord Vishnu.This ceremony is performed any time between the eleventh lunar day of the bright fortnight of the Hindu month Kartik (Prabodhini Ekadashi) to the full moon of the month (Kartik Poornima). Generally it is performed on the eleventh or the twelfth lunar day,which varies from place to place.
Traditional celebrations on the day of Tulsi Vivah include:
- Women folk engage themselves in various preparations, including preparation of wide variety of dishes well in advance.
- A typical Goan ojhe (load of sweets) is sent to the daughter from her parental home along with jodi (cotton threads used to light lamp while performing aarti)
- As it is Tulsi’s Vivah, Tulsi Vrindavan is decorated like a bride on this day.
- Sugarcane and branches of tamarind and amla trees are planted along with the Tulsi plant
- The food preparation includes only vegetarian food.
- At midday, a full meal consisting of rice, moongachi gathi, puri , sweet potato kheer , red pumpkin vegetable cooked with pieces of sugarcane, amla and tamarind is offered to Tulsi Vrindavan.
- It is during dusk or evening that the actual ritual of Tulsi Vivah is performed.
- Different Poha dishes are offered to Lord Vishnu.
- The Prasad after the Vivah puja is distributed among al friends and relatives.