In this month the sun moves into Mesha rasi (Aries), and the new year begins according to many calanders.
Keshava Vrata starts; for one month one should control the senses, sleep on the earth, bath twice daily in a river, worship the Lord and give cloth, sugar, sesame, rice, and gold to the brahmanas. If one worships Madhsudana in this month one gains the benefits of one years worship.
While Keshava Vrata lasts one may hang a pot with a hole in it, fill it with water and drip water over Tulasi and a Shalagrama Shila.
As it is getting hot by this time of the year in the northern hemisphere it is pleasing for the Shaligram to receive cool waters dripped upon Him. How to do this? Suspend a waterpot that has a small hole in it over Tulasi and over the Shaligram and allow to drip, some places they make a frame to facilitate this some will suspend the pot by a string or chain from the ceiling.
For Tulasi this is especially done in the now hot northern hemisphere when water becomes a vital asset for the growth of Tulasi Devi. In the southern hemisphere be careful not to overwater as we come out of Summer and into Autumn.
Note: Special thanks to Jaya Tirtha Caran prabhu from NZ for allowing us to use some of the content from his site to compile these pages.