Rangoli for Tulasi Vivaha-Chiluku Dwadasi
Today being the Dwadasi (12th day) of the month of Kartika is auspicious and is celebrated as Chiluku Dwadasi for performing Tulasi Vivah(marriage of Basil plant with Lord Maha Vishnu). Many rituals are associated with this day. Chiluku Dwadasi is celebrated in the South which includes Tulasi Vivaha. In North India Tulasi Vivah is observed . If I find time, I will try to post about these rituals in detail.
Every Hindu family has a Tulasi(basil) plant at home. It is mainly planted in a specailly constructed pot known as Vrindavan, in the the center of courtyards(in olden times) or at least in the the back yard. It is worshiped every day in the morning and in the evening, by lighting lamps and performing certain rituals.
Today, women keep fast and in the evening, clean the area surrounding the Vrindavan. New Tulasi plants (Krishna Tulasi, which has black coloured leaves) are planted in the pot along with the old one(Lakshmi Tulasi, which has green leaves). Salagrama or an idol of lord Vishnu is placed in the pot near the plant and worshipped.
Many Rangolis are drawn on this occasion. I will try to post some today. But here is the one which I posted some time back.
http://summersofindia.blogspot.in/2011/11/rangoli-139.
You can also draw, rangolis of lotuses, lamps, Swastika, Om etc.
