Tulsi Vivah 2023 Date and Timings

In India, it is not unusual for Hindus in India to marry trees, plants, etc. Such customs are rooted in religion and tradition. But what if God himself marries a plant? Let us find out the who, why, and what of this ritual. The ritual, called Tulsi Vivah (‘Vivah’ means ‘marriage’), marks the wedding of Vishnu, a major Hindu deity, with Tulsi, a holy plant, also called the Basil. Hindus consider Tulsi to be a sacred plant. It has a lot of spiritual significance. People observe this festival for good fortune, prosperity, and happiness. Tulsi Vivah 2023: Date and timings Tulsi Vivah 2023 is on Friday, November 24. Dwadashi Tithi, the 12th day of the waxing lunar phase in the Hindu month of Kartik, begins at 09:01 pm on November 23, 2023, and ends at 07:06 pm on November 24, 2023.

The Legend behind Tulsi Vivah

Tulsi is the “Queen of Herbs.” It represents purity, devotion, and longevity. Hindus, in fact, worship it as a goddess. There are many legends that talk about the origin of Tulsi Vivah. A very popular legend talks about Vrinda, a great devotee of Vishnu. She was the wife of the demon king Jalandhar. The whole kingdom knew about Vrinda’s purity and devotion. In fact, her husband’s power was due to her chastity. But Vishnu wanted to defeat Jalandhar. So, he assumed the form of Jalandhar and approached Vrinda. Vrinda’s vow of chastity was broken, and hence, Jalandhar lost his power, and Vishnu was able to defeat him. On realizing Vishnu’s trickery, Vrinda was heartbroken. She cursed Vishnu to become a stone idol. To lift the curse, Vishnu married the Tulsi plant, which was supposedly the reincarnation of Vrinda.

Significance of Tulsi Vivah

Tulsi Vivah marks the beginning of the wedding season for Hindus. They perform Tulsi Vivah and invoke the blessings of Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi for a prosperous and harmonious married life. The Tulsi plant is found in most Hindu households. They nurture it with love and devotion and worship it. The plant symbolizes love, purity, and devotion. They consider the plant sacred. During the ritual, people decorate the plant and conduct a marriage ceremony with Vishnu. The festival has significance in astrology, too. Performing Tulsi Vivah on this day can ward off adverse planetary effects and bring positive changes in your life. The plant has many uses in the Ayurveda system of medicine. The festival also reminds us of the importance of plants and trees, which benefit us in many ways, and the need to protect them.

Rituals of Tulsi Vivah Pooja

The preparation for the Pooja begins many days before the actual event. Homes are cleaned thoroughly. People decorate the Tulsi plant and make arrangements for the ceremony.

On the day of Tulsi Vivah, devotees arise before sunrise and have a bath. After wearing clean clothes, they decorate the Tulsi plant and perform the wedding ritual with Vishnu.

During the ritual, the priest recites Vedic Mantras and Slokas. After the ritual, people offer prayers and perform aarti to seek blessings from the divine.

To Hindus, the Tulsi plant is holy. They worship it throughout the year. During Tulsi Vivah, they offer water, fruits, sweets, and incense sticks to the plant.

People also offer Til or sesame seeds as Prasad during Tulsi Vivah, as it is highly auspicious. Devotees also offer Dakshina or donations to the priests and the needy.

In some places, there are Tulsi Vivah processions in which people carry the Tulsi plant in a palanquin to temples and homes. There is music and dance, too. Devotees offer prayers to the Tulsi plant and seek blessings.

There are other customs and traditions related to Tulsi Vivah as well. Offering Tulsi leaves to Vishnu can bring positivity and get rid of negative energies.

Benefits of Tulsi Vivah 2023 for Couples

Tulsi Vivah Pooja has many benefits, especially for married couples.

It ensures a prosperous and harmonious marital life. It can ward off negative energies and prevent conflicts and misunderstandings.

The Tulsi plant has medicinal properties. Hence, the Pooja is good for the couple’s physical and mental well-being.

The Pooja ensures fertility and healthy progeny. It brings blessings from Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi, who bestow fertility and prosperity.

It boosts the emotional bond between the couple.

It resolves issues like delayed marriage and marital problems. It can help one overcome obstacles.

The Pooja can bring prosperity and stability to the couple. The ritual is associated with the harvest season. The belief is that it brings wealth and abundance.

It can also bring spiritual growth and enlightenment.