VARANASI: Many worshippers came together at Varanasi's Dashashwamedh Ghat to bathe in the sacred waters of the Ganga River during Ekadashi and Tulsi Vivah. The Tulsi Vivah ceremony is being observed today with reverence. Women are observing fasts, taking the holy Ganga dip, and offering prayers. 

 Amidst the serene ambiance, devotees immersed themselves in the purifying waters of the holy river Ganga, offering prayers and performing customary rituals along the Ghat.

Marking this auspicious occasion, the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra extended warm wishes to fellow Indians while offering prayers at the Shri Vitthal-Rukmini temple in Padharpur. "May Lord Vitthal Rukmini's blessings envelop our lives with love, harmony, and peace! Wishing everyone a joyous Kartiki Ekadashi," shared Devendra Fadnavis in a post on X.

Dev Uthani Ekadashi, also known as Prabodhini Ekadashi or Dev Uthhana Ekadashi, holds significant importance in the Hindu religion. Typically, there are 24 ekadashis in a calendar year, with occasional occurrences of two extra ekadashis in a leap year.

Believed to be the day when Lord Vishnu awakens, this auspicious Ekadashi falls during the Kartik month and is celebrated prominently, particularly in states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh. Devotees observe fasts, engage in the holy ritual of bathing in the Ganga to absolve past Karma, and seek spiritual salvation. Within Hinduism, fasting on Ekadashi aims to gain mastery over the mind and bodily senses.

According to Hindu scriptures, Lord Vishnu married Tulsi, a plant believed to be the incarnation of a woman named 'Vrinda.' The ritual of Tulsi Vivah is performed by devotees, symbolizing a blessed marriage. On this day, people worship Lord Vishnu adorned in white or yellow attire, offering fruits and fragrant flowers to the deity.

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