Why the Sacred Basil (Tulasi) is forbiddened 

in the Pooja of Ganesha (Vinayaka) ?

Bhadrapada maasa Sukla Chaturdhi is

 the festival for the Lord Ganesha.

The festival is also known as   Vinayaka chaviti or

 Ganesh Chaturdhi etc.,

  He is the lord of all deeds. works,  affairs,

 functions and  festive occasions. 

First and first the Ganesha is to be worshipped

 and then our work is to be started.

Then we do not have any obstructions for our efforts

and the results would be successful.

This is a religious customs which we all believe so strongly.

In the festival of the  God Ganesha (on the festival day

of Sree Vinayaka Chaturdhi), it is customized since

 the mythological time, as the Lord is being worshipped

  with twenty one kinds of flowers and specified leaves

(Ekavimsati Patrani).

But among them  the sacred Tulasi (Basil) can not be seen.

 The Basil which is the  most sacred for all of the Deities

and all our festival occasins, but with which

 we do not worship the lord Vinayaka.

There was a mythological story.

 In the ancient  time, once, on the banks of

the River, Ganges, the lord Ganesha was roaming

on a plesant stroll, the princess

Dharmadwaja’s daughter  looked at Him.

Then she had a passionated fond of the Ganesha

 and wanted to marry and asked Vinayaka to marry her.

For this, the Vigneswara  rejected Dharmadwajaa’s princess.

 When once the lord Ganesha contempted her offer,

the princess got angry and anathematised Him

to live as a Brahmachari (celibate) for ever.

 For this, the Lord Ganesha retaliated and

cursed her to live near a demon for a long time.

The princess felt very said about her hastiness

 and the incident also  and prayed Vinayaka

for the Saapavimukti (deliverance from the curse).

Then the Lord Ganesha had become calm and

gave the saapavimukti that  she would stay with

the demon and after some time she will born as  a sacred Tulasi (Basil).

It happened like that and she was born as a holy Tulasi.

Hence, in the festival of  the God Vinayaka, the Tulasi (Basil) is not added.