Tulsi Vivah is a ceremonial marriage of the holy Tulsi (sacred basil) plant, representing Goddess Vrinda, to Lord Vishnu or his manifestation as Shaligram. This sacred Hindu festival is observed on Kartik Shukla Dwadashi (twelfth day of the waxing moon) in the Hindu month of Kartik, following Prabodhini Ekadashi. The festival marks the end of the monsoon season and the beginning of the Hindu wedding season.

The ritual is performed with all the traditional ceremonies that accompany a Hindu wedding, including decoration of bride (Tulsi), installation of mandap (wedding pavilion), Vedic mantras, Kanyadan (giving away the bride), circumambulation of sacred fire, and community feasting. This unique festival celebrates the sacred bond between the divine and nature. In Vrindavan, Mathura, and the entire Braj region, Tulsi Vivah is celebrated with the same grandeur as an actual wedding.

Without Tulsi, offerings to Lord Vishnu are considered incomplete. Therefore, this sacred plant holds immense importance in Hindu worship. The marriage ceremony ensures that Tulsi remains an integral part of daily worship and symbolizes the eternal devotion between the divine and devotees.

According to Hindu mythology described in ancient scriptures, Tulsi was originally Vrinda, the devoted and chaste wife of the demon king Jalandhar (Jalandhara). Due to her unwavering devotion and purity, her husband became invincible. No deity could defeat him, and he began terrorizing the three worlds.

To defeat Jalandhar and restore cosmic balance, Lord Vishnu had to break Vrinda's chastity. He disguised himself as Jalandhar while the real Jalandhar was in battle. When Vrinda realized the deception after Jalandhar's death, she was devastated and cursed Lord Vishnu to become a stone (Shaligram). Moved by her devotion and repentant of his deception, Lord Vishnu blessed her to become the sacred Tulsi plant, which would be worshipped in every Hindu home and promised to marry her every year.

Tulsi Vivah marks the awakening of Lord Vishnu from his four-month cosmic sleep (Yoga Nidra) on Dev Uthani Ekadashi (Prabodhini Ekadashi). This day signals the start of the auspicious period for Hindu weddings and other religious ceremonies. Performing this ritual with devotion brings marital bliss, progeny for childless couples, family harmony, and spiritual merit equivalent to performing a real wedding ceremony. Couples who sponsor the ceremony as Tulsi's parents are blessed with children.

• Three months before the ceremony, devotees should water, nurture, and worship the Tulsi plant daily
• On the ceremony day, install a wedding pavilion (mandap) with decorative torans (door hangings)
• Worship Lord Ganesha and Matrikas with four Brahmins, perform Nandi Shraddha and Punyahavachana
• Dress the Tulsi plant as a bride with red or yellow saree, jewelry, and traditional bridal adornments
• Place Tulsi next to Shaligram or a golden idol of Lord Lakshmi-Narayan facing east
• Perform Kanyadan (giving away the bride) during Godhuli time (twilight)
• Conduct Kushandika Havan (sacred fire ceremony) with circumambulation
• Offer flowers, fruits, sweets, betel leaves, sugarcane, and sacred items
• Distribute Prasad including coconut burfi, fruits, and peanuts to devotees
• Sing devotional songs, Tulsi Chalisa, and bhajans throughout the ceremony

Various items are offered during Tulsi Vivah ceremony, symbolizing the sacred marriage and seeking blessings:

• Coconut Burfi: Sweet coconut fudge offered as prasad, symbolizing prosperity and sweetness in relationships
• Fresh fruits: Bananas, coconuts, and seasonal fruits offered to the deities
• Sweets and dry fruits: Traditional Indian sweets, dates, and dry fruits for the ceremony
• Betel leaves and betel nuts: Traditional items used in Hindu wedding ceremonies
• Sugarcane: Symbol of sweetness and prosperity, offered during the ceremony
• Flowers and garlands: Marigold, jasmine, and other auspicious flowers for decoration and worship