by MK Gupta
This year there was a special religious fervour for celebrating various festivals because of disruptions in the year 2020 & 21 due to covid.
Our Shiv Mandir has been celebrating this festival for the past many years with great pomp and show and this year was no different.
A “barat” of Lord Vishnu, christened as “Shaligram” for this occasion was taken out on 5 Nov in the park, led by Bandwallas. Our priests of the mandir were from the bridegroom’s side & Mrs Gandhi & ladies’ group of Mandir constituted the bride’s side.
A reception also known as Deep daan was held on 6th Nov,. With the lightening of lamps & followed by Bhajans, dancing & a ‘bhoj’.
As per Hindu mythology, Lord Vishnu was cursed by Tulsi Mata, who turned him in to a black stone. To get rid of this curse, Lord Vishnu in the form of ‘Shaligram’, gets married to Mata Tulsi.
‘Tulsi vivah’ is conducted on the day after ‘Kartik Ekadashi’ that is on Dwadashi during the Shukla paksh. The festival continues for five days and concludes on the full moon day. The day is also known as the ‘Dev Uthani Ekadashi’ and considered to be very auspicious and most importantly the beginning of the marriage season in Hindu Community. This festival is celebrated in many states of India including Goa.
