Wed Nov 13 06:52:27 UTC 2024: ## Tulsi Vivah 2024: Auspicious Muhurat and Rituals for the Marriage of Basil Plant

**Ghaziabad, November 13, 2024:** The auspicious festival of Tulsi Vivah, marking the marriage of the sacred basil plant (Tulsi) with Lord Vishnu in his Shaligram form, was celebrated today across India. While most people performed the ritual on November 12th, some chose to celebrate it on November 13th, as the auspicious muhurat extended into the evening.

Astrologer and Vastu expert Rakesh Chaturvedi from Pratap Vihar, Ghaziabad, explained the reason behind the extended celebration. According to him, the Ekadashi Tithi, a crucial time for performing the ritual, ended at 4:05 PM on November 12th. The ideal time for Tulsi Vivah is during the Pradosh Kaal (evening) and the night hours of the Ekadashi Tithi. Since the Pradosh Kaal was not available on November 12th, the ritual could be performed on November 13th, coinciding with the Dwadashi Tithi and the Pradosh Vrat.

The auspicious muhurat for Tulsi Vivah on November 13th was from 5:29 PM to 7:53 PM. The rituals involve establishing a small altar for the Tulsi plant, adorning it as a bride with red bangles, mogra garland, a necklace, a bindi, anklets, sindoor, and a floral garland. A mandap is constructed using sugarcane and banana leaves, decorated with flowers, lights, and Rangoli. The Shaligram, representing Lord Vishnu, is also decorated and placed on a small altar adorned with an eight-petaled lotus.

The rituals include offering milk, turmeric, and gangajal to both Tulsi and Shaligram, dressing the Shaligram with a dhoti, tying them together with thread, applying a tilak with milk and sandalwood to the Shaligram, and a tilak of vermilion to Tulsi. The couple is then carried in the lap of a male and female, respectively, and seven rounds of the mandap are performed.

It is important to remember that both husband and wife should be present during the Tulsi Vivah ceremony, and unmarried individuals cannot perform the ritual.

The Tulsi Vivah holds immense significance in Hinduism, marking the beginning of all auspicious and celebratory events after the four-month Chaturmas period. The marriage of the Basil plant with Lord Vishnu signifies the union of purity and divinity. It is believed that performing Tulsi Vivah brings prosperity, peace, and happiness to the family.

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