Mangalore: 'Tulsi Lagnam' - Marriage of Two Natural Plants
Report and pics by Amritha B Rao
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SP)
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Mangalore, Nov 12: Boloor village in Ashoknagar within the city limits celebrated 'Tulsi Lagnam' on Kartika Dwadashi day as per the Hindu calendar, which fell on Monday November 10 this year. Annually on this day, people of the entire village gather together in a cluster of six houses to witness the celebration of 'Tulsi Lagnam' and it is on the day when people come together and pray for the blessings of Goddess Tulsi. Prayer begins at seven in the evening and goes on till mid night.
'Tulsi Lagnam' is the marriage of Tulsi plant, which is looked upon as a bride, with the gooseberry plant taking the place of the groom. It is said that Lord Vishnu had tricked Tulsi into believing that he was her husband by disguising himself as her husband Jalandhar, a demon. Unless her unwavering devotion towards her husband was diluted, which was the secret behind Jalandhar's valour, Jalandhar could not be killed. As she believed Lord Vishnu as her husband for a while, she took birth as Rukimini, wife of Lord Krishna, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu in her next birth.
The Tulsi plant, which is grown in the courtyards of Hindu households as a mark of health and longevity, is decorated with sugarcane stalks, mango leaves and Rangolis on all the four sides of the plant. Diyas are also kept to add to the attraction. Bhajans are chanted as a part of the prayer.
The preparation for the poja begins about six months prior to the festival. People make plastic flowers to decorate the plant. They prepare snacks to distribute at the end of the puja. People decide on the dresses to be worn to on the occasion. Men and women select different uniforms. This way of celebrations transcends cultural values to future generations.
Laxminarayan Rao, a resident of Boloor village says, “We begin the morning puja before the sunrise and the evening puja is performed after the sunset. We put golden chains and garlands on the two plants, as we do during marriages. This is such rare occasion that people take part in the puja with lot of interest and anyone and every one is welcome to be a part of the celebrations.”
Ratna, an eighty-year-old and a resident of Boloor village says, “I have been witnessing the celebrations since I was born and the grandeur of celebrations has been getting richer every year. I hope that our culture is carried over to the future generations too”, “people chant Bhajans by dancing to their tune, running and singing praises of Goddess Tulsi in a loud voice, the same way that I observed when I was young”, she adds enthusiastically.
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