Devotees in large numbers were seen visiting various temples on Sunday evening to attend the 'wedding ceremony'.
Grand decorations and a genuine marriage-like atmosphere marked the celebration of Tulsi Vivah at several temples in the city on Sunday. Devotees in large numbers were seen visiting various temples on Sunday evening to attend the "wedding ceremony".
The festival, also called Tulsi Shaligram Vivah, is celebrated on the 11th day of the month of Kartik in the Hindu calendar. It commemorates the marriage of Tulsi (known as Vrinda in the previous birth) to Shaligram (Lord Vishnu).
In the Saraspur area of Ahmedabad city, a marriage procession is taken out and a reception also held on the occasion. Haresh Dasadia, organiser of the marriage from Mahakaali temple (Desai ni pol), said two temples of Saraspur were involved in the marriage ceremony - Mahakali temple of Ambliwad and the Mahakali temple in Desai ni Pol.
"Devotees of Ambliwad temple are treated as the groom's relatives while those of Desai ni Pol temple are considered the relatives of the bride. We even organise a reception and the gifts received during the wedding and the reception are given away in the marriage of some poor girl," Dasadia said.
More than 10,000 devotees took part in the marriage procession on Sunday. The procession passed through different pols of Saraspur.
"One purpose of organising this vivah is to make people, particularly the younger generation, aware of Indian rituals and culture," said Krishna Bhavsar, organiser, Mahakali temple (Ambliwad). Speaking to DNA, a member of Vrajdham Haveli, Mayur Parekh, said they had prepared a beautiful mandap for the Tulsi Vivaah ceremony. "More than 5,000 devotees attended the event and watched the ritual with reverence," he said.
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