"Tulsi Vivah: A Marriage Ceremony of Divine Love and Ritual"

Hello all,
Here is a glimpse into our familiar tradition each year.
I hope you like it.

Two days ago, we celebrated Tulsi Vivah. It's a special day when we perform a ceremonial marriage of Lord Krishna to Radha, who we worship in the form of the basil plant (Tulsi). You can find a Tulsi plant in front of every traditional house on the veranda in India. Tulsi is a sacred plant, and we worship it every morning after praying to the gods in our house.

Every year, after Diwali, on the 11th day of the bright fortnight, we have Tulsi Vivah. This is done for the blessings and well-being of the family.

So, my mother prepared all the offerings like turmeric and kumkum in a dish with a small statue of Baby Krishna as the groom. There were flowers and an offering of milk as prasad (food offered to God). The lamp was already lit for the ritual. You can see the plate offered. There's a canopy made of jowar plant around the Tulsi plant podium; it's part of the ritual. Then, she performed a simple ritual (pooja).

After that, my wife and I held the ends of a sacred cloth between the bride and groom. It's to make sure they don't see each other's faces until the sacred hymns are recited. We call that sacred cloth an 'aantarpat.'

Everyone joined for the ceremony, and we distributed 'akshta' to everyone. It's jowar grains to garland the bride and groom after each hymn. After the hymns and garlanding, the white cloth is removed, and the marriage ceremony is officially over.

Finally, the statue of Baby Krishna is kept at the base of the Tulsi plant. That's how they are happily united with each other forever.

Pic credit: https://www.mypoojabox.com/products/bala-krishna

Thanks