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How to do or perform Tulsi Vivah Ritual? - A Complete Guide to Tulsi Puja Procedure and Tulsi Kalyanam?

Tulsi Vivah, or Tulsi Shaligram Wedding, is a popular Hindu ritual observed in the month of Kartik (October – November). Tulasi, or Tulsi, is holy basil and is an important religious symbol in Hinduism. Tulsi Vivah Puja is observed on different dates in Kartik month in different parts of India. The method of performing Tulsi Vivah Pooja also varies from community to community and depends mainly how the usual marriage ceremony is performed. Here is a step by step guide on How Tulsi Vivah is performed.

Please note that this is just to give a rough idea and the methods vary from region to region.

Tulsi Vivah Dates

Tulsi Vivah is observed on the Ekadasi that falls after Diwali. Some communities perform it on the day after Ekadasi – that is the Dwadashi day. In some regions it is performed on the Kartik Purnima day or full moon day after Ekadasi. For some communities, the Tulsi Vivah rituals begin on the Ekadasi day and end on Poornima day. Or it is observed on any one of the days during the period.

Tulsi Vivah 2019 pooja on Ekadasi day is November 8.
Tulsi Vivah Kratika Shuddha Dwadashi is November 9.
Tulsi Vivah on Kartik Purnima is on November 12.

Shaligram and Tulsi Plant

Two vital things needed for the Tulsi Vivah is a Tulsi plant and Shaligram or Saligram – Stone representing Lord Vishnu. If Shaligram is not available an image or idol of Lord Krishna or Lord Vishnu is used.

Which direction to face while doing Tulsi puja? 

East. This is the desired direction to perform the ritual

Puja items needed for Tulsi Vivah

  • Tulsi Plant which is three or more years old
  • Shaligram or Salagram – holy stones representing Lord Krishna. If Salagram is not available idol of Lord Krishna is used.
  • Mangalsutra or a turmeric tied to a thread
  • Vegetarian food
  • Uncooked rice
  • Sweets
  • Sugarcane sticks
  • Vermillion powder
  • Puja decorations
  • Flowers (red and yellow colors are preferred)
  • Fresh cloth
  • Sweet fragrance
  • Gopi Chandan

Prasad or Food Prepared on the day

Another important aspect is the food. Usually a good vegetarian meal is prepared on the day and offered to Tulsi and Lord Vishnu. The menu varies from region to region. Sweets are a must and are distributed after the Tulsi Vivah ceremony as Prasad. Sweet roti is prepared in many regions.

Tulsi Puja Mantra

देवी त्वं निर्मिता पूर्वमर्चि-तासि मुनीश्वरैः

 नमो नमस्ते तुलसी पापं हर हरिप्रिये॥

Tulsi Vivah Ritual

Usually, a Tulsi plant which is three or more years is chosen for the puja.

Tulsi pot or Tulsi Mandap in front of the house is colored. Tulsi and the pot or the base in which Tulsi plant is standing is decorated like a bride – by applying Turmeric and Vermilion powder. Sugarcane sticks and tamarind and Amla branches are placed alongside the Tulsi pot.

The Tulsi Vivah ceremony takes place in the late evening.
  • Lamp on the day should be lit using cow ghee only.
  • Some people narrate the story associated with Tulsi Vivah before starting the ceremony.
  • The Shaligram stone or idol of Krishna or Vishnu is placed next to Tulsi plant. Tulsi is the bride and Vishnu is the groom. So the placing of the Shaligram is same as the usual wedding.
  • Tulsi Vivah is performed with all the normal procedure followed in a Hindu wedding.
  • In some places, a priest goes to all the houses in the neighborhood and performs the wedding ceremony.
  • A Mangalsutra is tied on the Tulsi plant.
  • Sometimes an elderly person in the family performs the Kanyadan – giving away of the daughter.
  • A cloth is tied to the Shaligram and Tulsi plant.
  • The Mantras that are recited during a marriage ceremony are recited here.
  • The cloth is removed after the last mantra is recited.
  • People also shower flowers, rice on the newlywed couple during the marriage ceremony.
  • In some regions, the family that is performing the Tulsi Vivah goes round the Tulsi plant and Shaligram four times and prays.
  • Prasad is distributed among friends and relatives.
  • In some regions, people undertake a fast from morning till the Tulsi Vivah puja is over.
Greatness of Tulsi Puja

It is believed in Hinduism that Lord Vishnu goes to sleep on Ashada Shukla Paksha Ekadasi (June - July). He then wakes up on Kartik Shukla Paksha Ekadasi (October - November).

There is a popular belief after waking up, he first listens to Tulsi.

This is the reason why Tulsi Puja is performed on the next day of Kartik Shukla Paksha Ekadasi.

Benefits of Performing Tulsi Puja Vivah

A person performing Tulsi Vivah puja gets the same punya as performing Kanya Daan or marriage of a daughter.

It is believed that all problems in marriage will be solved by performing Tulsi Vivah. Couples who are finding difficulties in marriage should perform Tulsi Puja.