Tulsi Vivah 2026

Puja Vidhi: Goa (Tulsi Lagna)

Who Should Perform This Puja?

• Households: Goan Hindu families keep Tulsi Lagna at home as the annual wedding of the Tulsi plant, held in the courtyard around the Tulsi Vrindavan. It is a celebration with a family feast.
• Married Women and Girls: Married women pray at the Tulsi for their married life (Saubhagya), and girls fast and pray for a good husband.

When Should This Be Performed?

• Wedding Time: The Tulsi wedding is held in the evening. Check the puja muhurat for your city on this page.
• Day: Most families hold it on Dwadashi, the twelfth day, which in Goa closes the Diwali days.

About the Festival

Tulsi Lagna is a much-loved Goan observance in which families marry the Tulsi plant in its Vrindavan, with an amla branch as the groom, and with it the Diwali days come to an end. It takes place on the Dwadashi (twelfth day) of the Shukla Paksha in the month of Kartik.

Samagri List (Items Needed)

Gather these items before starting the evening puja:

• Vrindavan Decoration: Colours to paint the Tulsi Vrindavan, lamps (Diya), candles, flowers, and Rangoli for the courtyard
• The Wedding Party: An amla (Awla) branch for the groom, a tamarind branch for the bridesmaid (Karvali), a sugarcane stem for the best man, and marigold garlands
• Tilak: Vermilion (Sindoor) and turmeric (Haldi)
• Offerings: Fruit, puffed rice (Lahyo), poha mixed with coconut, and sugarcane
• For the Family Feast: Puffed rice, rice, red pumpkin, and a sweet potato dish

Puja Vidhi (Step-by-Step Guide)

Follow these step-by-step instructions carefully to perform the ritual correctly:

Step 1: Painting and Decorating the Vrindavan

1. Paint the Tulsi Vrindavan in many colours on the day of the wedding.
2. Decorate the courtyard with lamps, candles, flowers, and Rangoli.

Step 2: Setting the Wedding Party in the Vrindavan (Evening)

1. Set the amla branch in the Vrindavan as the groom.
2. Set the tamarind branch as the bridesmaid (Karvali) and the sugarcane as the best man.
3. Decorate the Vrindavan and the party with marigold garlands.
4. Keep vermilion and turmeric ready, as both are essential to the wedding.

Step 3: The Wedding

1. The priest, or the women of the house, recite the Mangal Ashtaka.
2. As it is recited, the bride and the groom are tied together.

Step 4: Aarti and Prayers

1. Sing the Tulsi Aartis.
2. Married women pray at the Tulsi.

Step 5: Offerings and Prasad

1. Offer fruit, puffed rice (Lahyo), poha mixed with coconut, and sugarcane.
2. Share these offerings among the family as prasad.

Step 6: The Family Feast

1. In the evening, sit down together for the family feast.
2. Serve puffed rice, rice, red pumpkin, and a sweet potato dish.

Puja Vidhi: Karnataka (Tulasi Habba)

Who Should Perform This Puja?

• Married Women: Married women keep this observance for the wellbeing of their husbands and families.
• Kannada Families: Families worship the Tulasi at the Tulasi katte (the raised platform for the Tulasi plant) in their homes.

When Should This Be Performed?

• Twelve Days of Worship: The Tulasi worship that begins at Deepavali goes on for twelve days and reaches its peak on Utthana Dwadashi.
• Early Morning Puja: The puja is done in the early morning, before dawn. Check the puja muhurat for your city on this page.
• Evening Puja: The puja is done again in the evening. Check the puja muhurat for your city on this page.

About the Festival

Tulasi Habba is a much-loved Kannada festival in which families decorate the Tulasi katte with Nelli (amla) plants and lamps and worship Tulasi together with Lord Damodara. It takes place on the Dwadashi (twelfth day) of the Shukla Paksha in the month of Kartika.

The Katha (Story of Jalandhara and Vrinde)

Jalandhara was a rakshasa whose wife, Vrinde, was a great devoted wife (pativrata). By the strength of her vow he never lost a battle, and he went on defeating the gods, who sought refuge in Lord Vishnu.

While Jalandhara was fighting the gods, Vishnu came before Vrinde in the form of Jalandhara's severed head and trunk, and she grieved. Vishnu then came as a sadhu and joined the head and the trunk by the art of restoring life (sanjivini vidya).

Vrinde embraced her husband, and her vow was broken; Jalandhara died. When she learnt the truth, she cursed Vishnu to become a Saligrama (the sacred stone of Vishnu). Parvati then built a Vrindavana round Vrinde's pyre.

The Tulasi that grew there Vishnu accepted and wore, and Vrinde's grove became Vrindavana. Vishnu made Vrinde the Tulasi and promised to marry her every year as the Saligrama. Since that day, Tulasi is honoured at her katte on Utthana Dwadashi.

Samagri List (Items Needed)

Gather these items before starting the puja:

• Tulasi Katte Decoration: Nelli (amla) plants, Torana of tender leaves, and flowers
• Sacred Plants: Agase, Nelli and Tulasi, the three held most sacred
• Lamps & Incense: Lamps for the katte, and Dhoop (incense)
• Tilak & Offerings: Turmeric, Kumkum, Sandal paste (Gandha) and Akshata
• For Lord Damodara: Saligrama, Ganga water, milk and a conch
• Naivedya & Garlands: Avalakki (beaten rice), Bella (jaggery) and cotton garlands

Puja Vidhi (Step-by-Step Guide)

Follow these step-by-step instructions carefully to perform the ritual correctly:

Step 1: Decorating the Tulasi Katte

1. Clean the Tulasi katte and decorate it with turmeric, Kumkum and sandal paste.
2. Hang a Torana of tender leaves, set lamps round the katte, and plant Nelli (amla) plants beside it.
3. Decorate it with flowers.

Step 2: Preparing the Saligrama

1. Wash the Saligrama in Ganga water and adorn it with Tulasi leaves.
2. Use Agase, Nelli and Tulasi together in the worship, as these three are held most sacred.

Step 3: Worshipping Kartika Damodara

1. Worship Lord Kartika Damodara with the sixteen offerings (Shodashopachara).
2. Pour milk in a conch and pray: "उत्तिष्ठोत्तिष्ठ गोविन्द, उत्तिष्ठ गरुडध्वज, उत्तिष्ठ कमलाकान्त त्रैलोक्यं मङ्गलं कुरु".

Step 4: Special Puja of the Vrindavana

1. Perform a special puja of the Vrindavana with Dhoop, a lamp, Gandha and Akshata.
2. Offer cotton garlands, which are held special in this puja.

Step 5: Bhajan, Naivedya and Charity

1. Circle the Tulasi singing bhajans in praise of Govinda, Rama and Narayana, keeping time, and bow before her.
2. Offer Avalakki and Bella as the Naivedya.
3. Give food or clothes in charity.

Step 6: At the Udupi Krishna Matha

1. At the Udupi Krishna Matha, the morning Tulasi puja includes an offering of milk into a coconut half placed below the Tulasi, and the amla tree is worshipped too.

Puja Vidhi: Ksheerabdi Dwadashi

Who Should Perform This Puja?

• Married Women: Married women chiefly keep this vrat at home, praying for lasting married happiness (Aidhotanam) and prosperity for the family.
• Devotees of Vishnu and Tulasi: Anyone who worships Lakshmi, Tulasi and Lord Vishnu at the Tulasi stand on this day, hears Tulasi's story and gives a lamp as a gift (Deepa Danam) is freed, the katha says, of past sins.

When Should This Be Performed?

• Ekadashi Fast: The fast is kept on Ekadashi (the eleventh day), the day before the main puja.
• Dwadashi Morning: The fast is broken the next morning with food first offered to Lord Vishnu.
• Evening Puja: The puja is done in the evening on Dwadashi, after sunset. Check the puja muhurat for your city on this page.
• Deepa Danam: The gift of a lamp is made at the end of the evening puja.

About the Festival

Ksheerabdi Dwadashi is a much-loved Telugu observance in which families worship Tulasi at her raised stand (Tulasi Kota), set an amla branch beside her as Lord Vishnu, and light lamps after sunset. It recalls the day Lord Vishnu rises from the Ocean of Milk (Ksheerabdi) with Lakshmi to dwell in the Tulasi. It takes place on the Dwadashi (twelfth day) of the Shukla Paksha in the month of Kartika.

The Katha (Story of Ksheerabdi Dwadashi)

Once, during his exile in the forest of Dvaitavana, Yudhishthira asked the sage Vyasa for a vrata that would fulfil every wish. Vyasa answered by telling him what Brahma had once told Narada.

Lord Vishnu had vowed that on the Dwadashi of the Shukla Paksha in Kartika, after sunset, he would rise from the Ocean of Milk with Lakshmi and dwell in the Tulasi stand (Brindavanam) together with all the gods and sages. Whoever worships Lakshmi, Tulasi and Vishnu there, hears Tulasi's story and gives the gift of a lamp, Vyasa said, is freed of past sins.

Vyasa described the vrata. Keep a fast on Ekadashi. On the evening of Dwadashi, bathe, clean the Brindavanam, draw a rangoli and worship. Offer coconut, jaggery, dates, sugarcane and bananas, then betel leaves (Tamboolam), the lamp of camphor (Neerajanam) and flowers (Mantrapushpam), and give a lamp with sandal paste, flowers and fruit to a Brahmin. He then told the merit of lamps: a lamp of one wick gives wisdom, and a lamp of ten wicks gives the sight of the Lord. Cow's ghee is the best for a lamp, and sesame oil comes next.

Last, Vyasa told the story Brahma had told of Tulasi. Two Brahmins of Kashmir, Harimedha and Sumedha, were resting under a banyan tree, and Sumedha told his friend how Tulasi was born of the tears of joy that Lord Vishnu shed when the nectar of immortality (amrita) came forth. As he spoke, the tree split open, and two Brahmarakshasas came out of it: the deva Asthika, cursed by the sage Romasa, and a disciple cursed by his guru. Hearing the greatness of Tulasi, both were freed from their curses.

Samagri List (Items Needed)

Gather these items before starting the evening puja:

• Tulasi & Lord Vishnu: The Tulasi plant in its stand (Tulasi Kota), an amla (Usiri) branch with its fruit, and an image or picture of Lord Vishnu
• Decoration: Turmeric, Kumkum, rice flour for the rangoli (Muggu), flowers and garlands
• Lamps: Earthen lamps and cotton wicks, with ghee or oil for the lamps
• Worship Items: Incense and camphor
• Food Offerings (Naivedya): Coconut, jaggery, dates, sugarcane and bananas
• Tamboolam & Deepa Danam: Betel leaves and a banana for the Tamboolam, and a lamp with sandal paste, flowers and fruit to give away

Puja Vidhi (Step-by-Step Guide)

Follow these step-by-step instructions carefully to perform the ritual correctly:

Step 1: Fast and Morning

1. Keep a fast on Ekadashi, the day before the main puja.
2. On the morning of Dwadashi, first offer food to Lord Vishnu, then break your fast with it.

Step 2: Evening Bath and Preparing the Kota (Evening)

1. In the evening, bathe and wear a silk sari.
2. Clean the Tulasi Kota and smear turmeric all around it.
3. Make dots of Kumkum and rice flour around the stand, and draw a Kalyanam Bottu (the wedding dot) at its centre.
4. Draw a rangoli (Muggu) around the Tulasi Kota.

Step 3: Setting the Amla Branch

1. Set the amla branch, with its fruit, in the Tulasi Kota beside the Tulasi plant, as Lord Vishnu in his form of Damodara.
2. Place the image of Lord Vishnu on the Brindavanam.
3. Offer flowers and garlands on the Tulasi plant and on the Kota.

Step 4: Lamps and Worship (After Sunset)

1. After sunset, light an earthen lamp with twelve wicks and place it beside the Tulasi Kota.
2. Light the incense, and then recite the Tulasi Ashtottaram (the one hundred and eight names of Tulasi).
3. Offer the Naivedya of coconut, jaggery, dates, sugarcane and bananas, and offer the Tamboolam of two betel leaves and a banana.
4. Perform the Neerajanam with a camphor flame, and offer flowers (Mantrapushpam).

Step 5: Namaskaram and the Katha

1. Bow down fully, with the whole body touching the ground (Sashtanga Namaskaram), before Tulasi and Lord Vishnu.
2. Read or listen to the Ksheerabdi Dwadashi Vrat Katha with devotion.

Step 6: Deepa Danam and Prasad

1. Give a lamp with sandal paste, flowers and fruit to a Brahmin. This is the Deepa Danam.
2. Take the Naivedya you offered as prasad.

Puja Vidhi: Maharashtra (Tulsi Vivah)

Who Should Perform This Puja?

• Families: Maharashtrian families keep this festival at home, marrying the Tulsi plant to Lord Balkrishna in a full wedding, and pray that their own daughters find a husband like Krishna.
• The Head of the Household: The head of the household (Karta) bathes, worships Tulsi and Krishna, and performs the Kanyadaan of Tulsi, which earns the merit of giving away a daughter (Kanyadaan Phal).
• Couples Without a Daughter: A couple with no daughter often bears the cost of the wedding and acts as the parents of the bride.

When Should This Be Performed?

• Preparation: The Tulsi Vrindavan is painted and decorated the day before the wedding.
• Wedding Muhurat: The wedding is held in the evening (Sayankal). Check the puja muhurat for your city on this page.
• Antarpat and Kanyadaan: At the wedding muhurat the cloth screen is held and the wedding verses are sung; the Kanyadaan and the aarti follow.

About the Festival

Tulsi Vivah, also called Tulsi Lagna, is a much-loved Maharashtrian observance in which the family marries the Tulsi plant to Lord Balkrishna with a cloth screen, sung wedding verses and Kanyadaan. It takes place on the Dwadashi (twelfth day) of the Shukla Paksha in the month of Kartik, and the wedding may be held on any day up to Kartik Purnima.

The Katha (Story of Vrinda and Jalandhar)

Once upon a time there lived Vrinda, the wife of the asura Jalandhar. She was so chaste that the merit of her devotion made her husband unconquerable, even by the gods.

Lord Vishnu knew that Jalandhar could not fall unless Vrinda's chastity was broken. While Jalandhar was away, Vishnu took on his form and went to her palace. Then Mahadev killed Jalandhar, and Vrinda, grieving, became a sati.

As she gave up her body, she cursed Vishnu to become a stone, the Shaligram. In return, Vishnu made her a Tulsi plant. Pleased by her fidelity, he granted that Tulsi would always be worshipped.

In memory of this, Tulsi is married to the Shaligram. Since that day, the wedding of Tulsi is celebrated every year.

Samagri List (Items Needed)

Gather these items before starting the evening puja:

• Vrindavan Decoration: Geru (red ochre) and lime for painting, sugarcane, marigolds, Bor (jujube), Chinch (tamarind), Avla (amla), Sitaphal (custard apple), and onion greens
• Balkrishna & Clothes: An image of Balkrishna, new clothes for Krishna, and a new cloth for Tulsi
• Tulsi's Bridal Ornaments: Mangalsutra, green bangles, Jodvi (toe rings), Gajra (flower garland for the hair), and a Nath (nose ring)
• Mandap & Wedding: A Khopti (mandap) of sugarcane stalks, mango leaves for the Toran (door garland), an Antarpat (cloth screen), Akshata (rice grains) mixed with vermilion, a garland of new cotton, and lamps
• Mangal Snan & Oti: Turmeric and oil for the auspicious bath, and Bor, tender Harbhara (green chickpea) greens, Avla and a Khan (blouse cloth) for the Oti (the offering placed in the bride's lap)
• Prasad (Naivedya): Gud-khobra (jaggery with dry coconut), Dahi-pohe (flattened rice with curd), Harbhara dal Usal, Anarse, and Til laddoo

Puja Vidhi (Step-by-Step Guide)

Follow these step-by-step instructions carefully to perform the ritual correctly:

Step 1: Painting and Decorating the Vrindavan (The Day Before)

1. Paint the Tulsi Vrindavan (the raised planter of the Tulsi) with Geru and lime and decorate it.
2. Write on it the line "बोर चिंच आवळा, कृष्णदेव सावळा" (jujube, tamarind and amla, for the dark-hued Lord Krishna).
3. Plant sugarcane and marigolds in the Vrindavan, and set tamarind and amla at its root.
4. Place Bor, Chinch, Avla, Sitaphal and onion greens in it.

Step 2: Worshipping Tulsi and Krishna

1. The head of the household bathes and worships Tulsi and Lord Krishna with the sixteen offerings (Shodashopachara).
2. Give both a Mangal Snan (auspicious bath) with turmeric and oil.
3. Dress Krishna in new clothes and drape a new cloth on Tulsi.
4. Adorn Tulsi as a bride with the mangalsutra, green bangles, Jodvi, Gajra and a Nath.

Step 3: Setting the Mandap and Filling the Oti

1. Set a Khopti of sugarcane as the mandap and hang a mango Toran at the door.
2. Fill Tulsi's lap with the Oti: Bor, tender Harbhara greens, Avla and a Khan.
3. Garland Tulsi with a garland of the new season's cotton.

Step 4: Waking the Lord and the Wedding

1. After the worship, wake Lord Vishnu.
2. At the wedding muhurat, hold the Antarpat (cloth screen) between Balkrishna and Tulsi and sing the Mangalashtake (wedding verses).
3. When the last verse ends with "सुमुहूर्त शुभमंगल सावधान", shower Akshata mixed with vermilion on the couple, remove the cloth, and clap together.

Step 5: Kanyadaan and Aarti

1. The head of the household performs the Kanyadaan of Tulsi, giving her in marriage to Balkrishna.
2. Offer the Mantrapushpa (flowers offered with a sacred verse).
3. Perform the Aarti, with lamps held round the Tulsi.

Step 6: Bhajan and Prasad

1. Let the women sing bhajan and bharud (devotional folk songs).
2. Offer Krishna's favourites as prasad: Dahi-pohe, Harbhara dal Usal, Anarse and Til laddoo.
3. Close the wedding by sharing Gud-khobra as prasad with everyone.

Puja Vidhi: North India and Gujarat

Who Should Perform This Puja?

• Families with a Tulsi plant: Families keep this festival at home, marrying Tulsi, a form of Goddess Lakshmi, to Lord Vishnu in the form of Shaligram.
• The householder who gives Tulsi in marriage: The one who does the Kanyadaan (giving the bride away) keeps a fast on the day and earns the merit of giving a daughter. A couple with no daughter of their own can do it for this merit.
• Married women: Married women keep the day for the wellbeing of their husbands.

When Should This Be Performed?

• Day: Most families hold the wedding on the Dwadashi of the Shukla Paksha in the month of Kartik. Some families hold it on Dev Uthani Ekadashi itself; see the Dev Uthani Ekadashi page for that day.
• Morning: Rise early, bathe and water the Tulsi. Do not pluck Tulsi leaves on Dwadashi.
• Wedding Muhurat: The wedding is done in the evening, in Pradosh Kaal at Godhuli (dusk), after sunset. Check the puja muhurat for your city on this page.

About the Festival

Tulsi Vivah is the yearly wedding of the Tulsi plant and Lord Vishnu, who is worshipped as the Shaligram stone. It is kept in the Hindi-speaking states and in Gujarat, where the order of the home puja is the same. The wedding season begins after Tulsi Vivah. In Gujarat some temples also hold the wedding as a groom's procession (Varghodo) and the Mameru ceremony.

The Katha (Story of Jalandhar and Vrinda)

Lord Shiva once cast his fiery energy into the sea, and from it was born Jalandhar, who grew into a mighty king of the daityas. He married Vrinda, the daughter of the daitya Kalanemi. Jalandhar made war to win Goddess Lakshmi, but she accepted him as a brother, since both had risen from the sea. He then went to Kailash, taking Shiva's form, to win Parvati. She knew him and vanished, and told Lord Vishnu.

Vrinda's devotion to her husband kept Jalandhar safe from death and defeat. Lord Vishnu came to her in the forest as a sage, burnt two illusory demons, and showed her two monkeys carrying her husband's head and body. Vrinda begged the sage to bring him back to life. Vishnu joined the head to the body and entered it himself. Her vow was broken, and Jalandhar fell in battle.

When Vrinda learnt the truth, she cursed Vishnu to become a heartless stone, and he became the Shaligram. At the prayer of the gods she released him from the curse and burnt herself, and a Tulsi plant grew where she was burnt.

Vishnu said that she was dearer to him than Lakshmi and would always be with him as Tulsi, and that whoever marries Tulsi to his Shaligram form gains fame in this world and the next.

Samagri List (Items Needed)

Gather these items before the evening puja:

• Tulsi and Shaligram: The Tulsi plant in its pot, a Shaligram, a Chowki for the Tulsi, a second Chowki for the Shaligram, and Sugarcane for the mandap
• For the Bride: Red Chunri, bangles, Bindi, Sindoor, Mehndi and other Suhag items
• For the Shaligram: Panchamrit, a yellow cloth, Chandan and Til (sesame seeds)
• Tilak & Turmeric: Roli, Kumkum, whole Haldi root and Haldi powder, and milk to soak the Haldi in
• Lamps & Puja: A Diya with Ghee, Dhoop (incense), flowers, Gangajal, a Kalash, Mauli (sacred thread) and Camphor
• Seasonal Offerings: Ber, Bhaji (leafy greens), Amla, Mooli (radish) and Gajar (carrot)
• Bhog: Fruit, Batashe (sugar drops) and sweets

Puja Vidhi (Step-by-Step Guide)

Follow these step-by-step instructions carefully to perform the ritual correctly:

Step 1: Morning Preparation

1. Rise early, bathe and water the Tulsi.
2. The one doing the Kanyadaan keeps a fast for the day.
3. Do not pluck Tulsi leaves on this day.

Step 2: Setting Up the Wedding Place (Evening)

1. Set the Tulsi pot on a Chowki in the middle of the courtyard and draw a rangoli beside it.
2. Raise a mandap of Sugarcane over the pot.
3. Set the Shaligram on its own Chowki beside the Tulsi, with a Kalash marked with a Swastika near the Chowki.

Step 3: Lighting the Lamp

1. Light a Ghee Diya before the Tulsi.
2. Sprinkle Gangajal and flowers.

Step 4: Tilak and Dressing

1. Apply Roli Tilak to the Tulsi and Chandan to the Shaligram.
2. Dress the Tulsi in the red Chunri and put on all the Suhag items: bangles, Bindi and Sindoor.
3. Bathe the Shaligram in Panchamrit and give him a yellow cloth.
4. Offer only Til to the Shaligram, and never rice.

Step 5: Applying Turmeric

1. Apply Haldi soaked in milk to the Tulsi and the Shaligram.
2. Apply it to the sugarcane mandap too, and worship the mandap.

Step 6: Mangalashtak

1. Recite the Mangalashtak (the wedding verses) for the wedding of Tulsi and the Shaligram.

Step 7: Seasonal Offerings

1. Offer the produce of the season: Ber, Bhaji, Amla, Mooli and Gajar.

Step 8: Seven Rounds

1. Carry the Shaligram, with his Chowki, seven times round the Tulsi. A man should lift the Chowki.

Step 9: Aarti and Namashtak

1. Perform the aarti "Tulsi Maharani Namo Namo" with Camphor.
2. Recite the Tulsi Namashtak: "वृन्दा वृन्दावनी विश्वपूजिता विश्वपावनी। पुष्पसारा नन्दनीच तुलसी कृष्ण जीवनी॥"
3. Bow with a full prostration.

Step 10: Bhog and Parikrama

1. Offer the Bhog, then go round the Tulsi eleven times.

Step 11: Sharing the Prasad

1. Share the prasad with everyone.
2. Take your own meal only after first eating the Bhog prasad.