KATHMANDU: The annual tradition of planting and worshipping the sacred Tulsi plant begins today on the occasion of Ashadh Shukla Ekadashi. As per Sanatan Vedic customs, Tulsi is regarded as a symbol of Lord Vishnu, and from today, devotees begin four months of special rituals and devotion.
A month ago, on Jyeshtha Shukla Ekadashi, seedlings were sown in household Tulsi shrines, and today those seedlings are transplanted into Tulsi pots (Mot). Special puja is performed from today until Kartik Shukla Ekadashi, marking this entire period as a sacred phase of devotion.
According to religious scholar and member of the Nepal Panchanga Nirnayak Bikas Samiti, Prof. Dr. Devmani Bhattarai, Harishayani Ekadashi marks the beginning of the four-month period known as Chaturmasa, during which Lord Vishnu is believed to rest in the cosmic ocean (Kshir Sagar).
There are 24 Ekadashis in a year. While some devotees observe fasting on all Ekadashi days, others may choose to fast only on the eight Ekadashis that fall within Chaturmasa. Those unable to observe fasting throughout the four months focus on the most significant ones—Harishayani Ekadashi (today) and Haribodhini Ekadashi (in Kartik)—observing fasts and consuming only fruits (phalahar).
On Harishayani Ekadashi, major Vishnu temples across Nepal, including Budhanilkantha and the four Narayan temples of the Kathmandu Valley, witness large crowds of devotees. Traditional Ekadashi fasts exclude rice-based dishes, with people opting for flatbreads, porridge, and fruits instead.
Scientifically, the Tulsi plant has also been proven to release high amounts of oxygen and is used medicinally for various ailments. It is believed that Tulsi plants prevent the spread of disease-causing germs and promote health by purifying the surrounding air. In Vastu Shastra, placing a Tulsi shrine in the home is said to bring positive energy.
After four months of devoted worship, the Tulsi plant is ceremonially “married” to Lord Damodar (a form of Vishnu) on Kartik Shukla Ekadashi through a Vedic ritual known as Tulsi Vivah. This event is followed by a havan (fire ritual) to conclude the Chaturmasa observance.
