UP: Devotees Celebrate ‘Tulsi Vivah’ at Prayagraj’s Balua Ghat

In a sacred celebration at Prayagraj’s Balua Ghat, devotees observed the ritual of ‘Tulsi Vivah’ on Tuesday morning, marking the ceremonial union of Lord Vishnu and Vrinda (Tulsi). The festival, typically held in October or November, is celebrated on Dev Uthani Ekadashi, the day Lord Vishnu is believed to awaken from his cosmic slumber.

Raj Rani Jaiswal, a devotee, explained, “Today is Dev Uthani Ekadashi. Lord Vishnu wakes today, and Mata Tulsi is wedded to Shaligram. Devotees fast, offer prayers, and come to Balua Ghat for a holy dip. We sing bhajans and worship Tulsi Mata.”

At Balua Ghat, devotees performed puja rituals, took holy dips, and sang devotional songs. The Tulsi Vivah ritual involves tying a sacred thread around the Tulsi plant and the idol of Lord Vishnu, symbolizing their union. Many families also invited priests to conduct the ceremony.

Celebrations extended across other holy sites, with people gathering for prayers and ritual baths in the Ganga in Varanasi, the Saryu Ghat in Ayodhya, and Pushkar in Rajasthan. The occasion marks the beginning of the Hindu wedding season, following Chaturmas, the period when Lord Vishnu is believed to be resting.