Tulsi vivah musings from Goa

Tulsi lagna or vivah is the marriage of tulsi plant with lord Vishnu or his incarnation Krishna.From the 11th moonlit fortnight, also known as Prabhodini, till the full moon or Pournima of kartik for five days, there continues a tradition of a ritual marriage of the tulsi with Krishna.Tulsi or tulas is the basil plant (ocimum sanctum) and regarded as a holy household plant in India. “It is believed to be a destroyer of demons and evil spirits. Unmarried girls worship it for a happy married life, married women, to be blessed with children and widows, to attain salvation.It is difficult to find a Hindu house without the tulsi vrindavan (pedestal). Earlier the pedestal where the tulsi was planted was manually made of clay.Watering the tulsi vrindavan, applying sandalwood paste, turmeric and red powder (kumkum) and also adorning it with flowers and lamps is a tradition observed even today among Hindu women. Among eco-feminist festivals of katyo, dhillo and dhalo, tulsi vrundavan occupies a prominent position. During chavath, a matoli or canopy is erected in front of the tulsi vrundavan with a variety of wild fruits and flowers.The prabodhini ekadishi is celebrated as vhodli or dev diwali. It marks the conclusion of chaturmas, a 4 month period when Lord Vishnu is believed to take a long sleep on ashad shuddha ekadashi and awakens on kartik shuddha ekadashi.Tulsi lagna is one of the most important festivals. No marriage ceremony will be held before tulsi lagna as it does not enjoy religious sanction among Hindus. The clay pedestal has today been replaced by a concrete one that varies in shape, size and colour. Every year before the tulsi lagna, the pedestal is painted. In rural areas, women make square shaped pedestals of clay and apply a paste of cow dung to them. This vrindavan is then decorated with wild flowers and yellow coloured marigold. On tulsi lagna, a tender stick of dino (Leea indica) is brought and designs carved on it. This dino stick symbolically represents the bride groom of the tulsi vrindavan. The vrindavan is decorated like a bride. Inside the pedestal in some areas a wild plant of tadmad and in other areas a plant of taikalo (cassia tora) along with pods is planted which is decorated with marigold flowers. A stem of sugarcane is also planted. Fruits of avalo (Emblica Officinalis) and tamarind (Tamarindus indica) are placed inside the pedestal. Sugarcane is also planted. Head gears made from pseudo banana stems are tied during the marriage ceremony to the tulas as well as dino plants. Akshatas or rice grains are thrown to solemnize the marriage. All marriage rituals are performed on this occasion. Chanting of holy hymns known as mangalashtakas accord a sense of sanctity, associating it with the feelings of having performed a pious deed. Once the rituals are over, those gathered relish the prasad which comes in the form of chirmulyo (puffed rice) and pieces of sugarcane.After solemnizing the marriage, married women light lakshavati, i.e. wicks of hands spun cotton threads on banana pseudo-stems. The wick bundles (jodvi) are allowed to burn completely.Women then go round the pedestal performing pradakshina. Married women fast for two days, on tulsi vivah and the day prior to it. They eat vegetarian food which mainly consist of tuber roots, fruits and sweet dishes. In most cases, the festival of tulsi vivah is an occasion where the family meets. Among the Dhangar-gouly community Dev Diwali is celebrated with joy and devotion. Earlier they used to light their lamps with clarified butter (loni). Clan deities are worshipped. Malkajan temple in Gaondongari, Canacona is the only temple with two Tulshi vrindavans. Both these vrindavans are transformed in to lively when they are decorated with flowers and illuminated with lamps.