Do It Yourself – Tulasi Kota

The Tulasi plant is regarded as deeply sacred in Hindu tradition. The word “Tulasi” means “the incomparable one.” Numerous stories in Indian mythology explain the significance of worshipping the Tulasi plant. Beyond its religious importance, the Tulasi plant is also valued for its powerful medicinal properties and is traditionally used to help prevent and treat various ailments. For this reason, Hindu households are often encouraged to grow a Tulasi plant at home. Traditionally, the plant is placed in a small, fort-like structure—often painted yellow or red—and decorated with ethnic rangoli designs and symbols of worship. This space becomes both a spiritual and cultural focal point within the home.

I was inspired to create a Tulasi Kota in our home. My first step was to research where I could buy one. In the U.S., I couldn’t find a Tulasi Kota that I truly liked. The few options that were a reasonable compromise were too expensive. That’s when I decided to make the planter myself.

The first challenge was finding a planter in the right size and shape. After spending several hours online, I found a 14-inch × 14-inch concrete planter at Lowes that was perfect. For the base, I selected a 16-inch × 16-inch concrete block. Since these items are not available for shipping and are quite heavy, make sure to bring someone along to help load them into your car. I am grateful to my husband for helping me bring them home.

For the colors, I chose red for the base concrete block and yellow for the planter. Simply spray the paint on and allow it to dry for at least a couple of hours before proceeding.

I spent some time planning the design and selecting the colors for the planter. It can be helpful to make a rough sketch on paper first to visualize the final look before painting. I chose a simple color palette of red, white, and green for the design.

For the planter, I decided on a traditional rangoli pattern in the center, with red and white dots forming the border. I hand-painted the design using acrylic paints. If you like, you can lightly sketch the design on the planter first using a charcoal pencil as a guide before painting.

It took me a couple of days to finish painting the planter. Afterward, I needed the help of my husband and son to move it to the patio, as the planter is extremely heavy—so be very careful when carrying it.

Once placed outdoors, it’s important to protect the paint from the elements. I sprayed the planter with a clear primer to help it withstand weather exposure. I hope this will be enough to keep the paint vibrant and lasting for a long time outdoors.

As the winters are pretty harsh where I live in Virginia, I decided not to plant the Tulasi directly in the concrete planter. Instead, I used a 10-inch round planter for the Tulasi plant, which fits comfortably inside the Tulasi Kota. This setup allows me to bring the plant indoors during extreme cold, while the concrete Tulasi Kota itself can remain outside during the colder months.

You can purchase a Tulasi plant on Etsy, Amazon, or at your local Indian store. Alternatively, you can request seeds from a friend who already has one—it’s actually quite easy to grow the plant from seed.

A few weeks before starting this project, a friend gifted me a small, adorable 3-inch Tulasi Kota. I grew the plant in this tiny Kota using seeds shared by another friend, which made the experience even more special.

I hope I’ve shared all the details you need to create your own Tulasi Kota at home. If you have any questions, please feel free to leave a comment below—I would be happy to share more about my experience with this project.