334 tracy pintchman
Ka ̄rtik Pu ̄ja ̄and Krishna’s Wedding to Tulsi
Women who participate in Ka ̄rtik pu ̄ja ̄are Ka ̄rtik vratı ̄s, those observing the
month-long Ka ̄rtik vratby bathing in the Ganges River very early in the
morning. Following their morning ablutions, they gather together in groups
along the gha ̄t.sat the river’s edge. Participants construct several icons, called
mu ̄rtis, out of Ganges clay, including those of Vishnu and Lakshmi, Shiva,
Ganesha, Radha-Krishna, Tulsi, the moon-god Candrama, the Sun-god Surya,
and the Ganges herself. Forming a circle around the mu ̄rtis, they perform pu ̄ja ̄
while singing devotional songs, called bhajans, particular to this occasion.
Many deities are represented and honored, but several of the bhajanssung
during the pu ̄ja ̄focus specifically on Krishna, and informants told me that the
pu ̄ja ̄ itself is largely dedicated to Krishna with the other deities called to be
present chiefly so that they, too, can participate as devotees. In the first song, the
gods are awakened by their consorts so that they can attend the pu ̄ja ̄:Parvati
wakens Shiva, Lakshmi wakens Vishnu, and Radha wakens Krishna. Then while
making devotional offerings to all the icons, pu ̄ja ̄participants themselves waken
Krishna with song, inviting him to arise, cleanse himself, and eat his breakfast.
A subsequent pu ̄ja ̄song celebrates Krishna’s form, enjoining all the sakhı ̄sto
focus their gaze on him and enjoy his physical beauty:^11
Having bathed and cleaned himself, good Govinda is walking: look at him!
He has a golden pot and is offering water: look at him!
He is playing a golden flute in his hand: look at him!
He has a golden anklet on his ankle and is making a ringing sound with it: look
at him!
He has a golden basket, from which he is offering flowers: look at him!
He has a shiny, golden sehara ̄^12 on his head: look at him!
Thepı ̄ta ̄mbar^13 that he is wearing is flapping: look at him!
He is chewing pa ̄n^14 in his mouth: look at him!
He has put black eyeliner (ka ̄jal) on his eyes: look at him!
He is wearing golden sandals and tapping them: look at him!
Oh Krishna, Oh Narayan, take away my worries!Several other bhajanssung specifically to or about Krishna are also included in
thepu ̄ja ̄, along with a ̄ratisongs to the Ganges, the sun-deity Suraj, Tulsi,
Annadev (the goddess of food), and Shiva.
After the main section of the pu ̄ja ̄is completed, participants narrate several
devotional stories. The first story focuses on Ganesha, Lord of Obstacles, and
ideally is followed by four other stories, including at least one story related to
the particular day in question. Since Friday is associated with the Goddess, for
example, then on Fridays a devotional story related to the Goddess is narrated;
on Thursdays, a story related to Vishnu; and so forth. There is no official story-
teller in the groups, although some women are more knowledgeable and outgo-
ing than others and hence tend to recount more devotional narratives than