Kartik month has special spiritual and religious significance in Hindu religion. The auspicious marriage of Mata Tulsi and Shaligram ji, the form of Lord Vishnu, is performed on the next day of Devuthani Ekadashi of Shukla Paksha of this holy month i.e. on Dwadashi Tithi. Chaturmas ends with Tulsi Vivah and auspicious functions like marriage, housewarming and mundan begin across the country. However, like every year, this time too there is confusion in the minds of devotees whether Tulsi Vivah will be celebrated on 20th November or 21st November 2026. According to the Vedic calendar and the calculation of Udaya Tithi, this year celebrating Tulsi Vivah on Saturday, 21 November 2026 will be scriptural and most auspicious. 20th or 21st November – When is Tulsi Vivah? According to the Panchang, remove all the confusion of the date. According to the calculations of the Hindu Panchang, the fast of Ekadashi (Devuthani Ekadashi) of Kartik Shukla Paksha will be observed on Friday, 20 November 2026. After this, Kartik Shukla Dwadashi Tithi will start on the night of 20th November 2026 (after around 09:30 PM) and this date will end on the evening of 21st November 2026 (around 07:15 PM). Since in Sanatan Dharma, Udaya Tithi (date existing at the time of sunrise) is given prominence for any festival or celebration and the ritual of Tulsi Vivah is mainly performed in Pradosh Kaal (at the time of twilight/sunset), hence the main festival of Tulsi Vivah will be celebrated on 21 November 2026 (Saturday). Although, in some traditional beliefs, a brief puja is also performed on the night of Ekadashi, but it is best to perform Kanyadaan and marriage in full Vedic manner on the evening of 21st November during Pradosh Kaal. Auspicious time and important time table of Tulsi Vivah 2026 Details of festival / worship (Event Parameter) Date and auspicious time (according to Panchang 2026) Devuthani Ekadashi (Hari Prabodhini Ekadashi) Friday, 20 November 2026 Main date of Tulsi Vivah (Kartik Shukla Dwadashi) Saturday, 21 November 2026 Beginning and end of Dwadashi date starting from 20 November night. Best time for Tulsi Vivah till 21st November evening (Pradosh Kaal) 21st November 2026, 05:25 PM to 07:10 PM Worship materials for Tulsi Vivah: Prepare these essential items before the puja. To conduct Tulsi Vivah at home with full rituals, all the materials should be collected in advance at the place of worship: Main idols: Green Tulsi plant (with pot) and the stone of Lord Shaligram. (Or the statue of Lord Vishnu). For making the mandap: four or five sugarcanes, banana leaves, mango leaves, rangoli and flower garlands. Sixteen adornments of Mata Tulsi: Red or yellow chunari, saree, vermilion, bindi, bangles, mehndi, kajal, mahvar, bichiya and other wedding accessories. Puja and havan materials: Yellow cloth, lump of turmeric, Akshat (whole rice – remember sesame seeds are offered to Lord Vishnu and Shaligram ji), Roli, sandalwood, incense, cow ghee lamp, camphor, Ganga water, Panchamrit, seasonal fruits (Amla, water chestnut, sweet potato, guava, plum) and sweets. Know the complete and simple method of performing Tulsi Vivah at home. According to religious beliefs, the couple who gets Tulsi Ji married as per the rituals, gets the great virtue like Kanyadaan and happiness and prosperity remain in their married life. Follow the steps given below to perform puja at home: Decorate the mandap and set up the chowki: Take bath before sunset and wear clean clothes. Make rangoli by cleaning the courtyard, terrace or puja room of the house. Spread a red or yellow cloth on a wooden post and install Tulsi ji along with the pot and place Lord Shaligram on the second post on the right side of it. Prepare a beautiful wedding mandap by planting sugarcane around the pot. Kalash Sthapana and Panchamrit Bath: Fill a kalash with water and place mango leaves and coconut near the pavilion. First of all, meditate on Lord Ganesha, then give a symbolic bath to Lord Shaligram and Mother Tulsi with Ganga water and Panchamrit. Makeup and Tilak: Cover Mother Tulsi with a red chunari and offer all the sixteen makeup items. Make Lord Shaligram wear yellow clothes and apply turmeric and sandalwood tilak on him (offer white or black sesame seeds instead of Akshat on Shaligram ji). Alliance and seven rounds: After this, tie a lump of turmeric and a coin in a yellow or red cloth and make an alliance of Lord Shaligram and Mother Tulsi. The male members of the house should take Lord Shaligram in their hands and circumambulate Mata Tulsi seven times. Aarti and Prasad distribution: Finally, perform the Aarti of Tulsi Mata and Lord Vishnu with ghee lamp and camphor, offer seasonal fruits (especially Amla and water chestnut) and sweets and distribute Prasad among all the family members.
