Tulasi Vivaha Puja is a significant Hindu ritual that celebrates the divine marriage of Tulasi (the holy basil plant) with Lord Vishnu or his incarnation Lord Krishna. This puja is performed on the eleventh day (Ekadashi) of the month of Kartika (October-November), which marks the culmination of the Kartika month festivities. The ritual is believed to bring blessings of health, wealth, and spiritual progress to devotees.

Tulasi, considered a sacred plant, symbolizes purity and devotion. She is often worshipped as an embodiment of Goddess Lakshmi, and her marriage to Lord Vishnu is seen as the union of devotion with divine grace. The ritual is believed to remove obstacles and promote harmony and prosperity.

The puja begins with the cleaning of the home and the preparation of a clean space for the altar. Tulasi plant is placed on the altar, and a small idol or image of Lord Vishnu or Lord Krishna is also placed nearby. The altar is decorated with flowers, mango leaves, and rangoli to create a sacred ambiance.

Devotees first offer water, milk, and ghee to the Tulasi plant, followed by chanting mantras such as Tulasi Stotra and Vishnu Ashtakshara Mantra (“Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya”) to invoke the blessings of the deities. Fruits, sweets, and incense sticks are offered, and ghee lamps (diyas) are lit around the plant to symbolize the triumph of light over darkness.

The marriage ceremony is symbolized by tying a sacred thread (moli) around the Tulasi plant and the idol of Lord Vishnu. This ritual signifies the divine union between devotion and the Supreme Being. The puja concludes with Aarti, and prasadam (offerings) are shared among family members.

Tulasi Vivaha Puja is not only a celebration of divine marriage but also a prayer for prosperity, happiness, and the removal of obstacles in life.