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Udhalashe Villagers Honor Stars with Centuries-Old Tulshi Vivah Celebration
2 Nov
Summary
- Tulshi vivah, a ritual marriage between Lord Vishnu and Tulsi, celebrated in Udhalashe
- Katyo festival associated with Krutika nakshatra and Diwali, held for 4 days
- Women perform folk dances and songs to invoke blessings of stars for millet crops
The village of Udhalashe in Sacorda is currently celebrating the centuries-old ritual of Tulshi vivah, the symbolic marriage between Lord Vishnu and the sacred Tulsi plant. This event is marked by the Katyo festival, which is associated with the Krutika nakshatra, a constellation visible during the Diwali season.
The Katyo festival begins on the 12th day of the first fortnight of the lunar month Kartik and concludes on Kartik Pournima. During this time, the women of Udhalashe gather at a common place in front of the Tulsi vrindavan (Tulsi pedestal) to perform traditional folk dances and recite songs that reflect the historical and socio-cultural heritage of the region. These songs also make references to the stars, as the villagers have long believed in invoking the blessings of the Krutika nakshatra to protect their millet crops.
According to local resident Ganpat Kalekar, in the past, wildfires often broke out when the Krutika nakshatra was visible in the sky, destroying the millet fields. This led the villagers' ancestors to start the Katyo festival, which has continued to this day as a way to seek the protection of the stars for their agricultural way of life.
