Vrat · Vishnu

Ekadashi

The eleventh day of each lunar fortnight, sacred to Vishnu. Many people fast or avoid grains and beans, and spend the day in prayer.

Next Ekadashi
Thursday 5 November 2026
New Delhi

For New Delhi, Thursday 5 November 2026

Krishna Ekadashi tithi

Begins
11:04 am, 4 Nov
Ends
10:36 am
Sunrise
6:36 am
Sunset
5:33 pm
Moonrise
3:45 am, 6 Nov
Moonset
3:01 pm

Worked out for your city. Panchangs can differ by a minute or so.

Full panchang for this day →

Puja times

For New Delhi, Thursday 5 November 2026

Parana (breaking the fast), 6 Nov

6:37 am to 8:48 am

Hari Vasara ends
4:35 pm, 5 Nov
Dwadashi ends
10:31 am
Ekadashi begins
11:04 am, 4 Nov
Ekadashi ends
10:36 am

Worked out for your city. Panchangs can differ by a minute or so.

How it is kept

Customs vary by region and family

  • Fast, or eat no grains or beans
  • Chant Vishnu’s names or read the Gita
  • Break the fast tomorrow, after sunrise

What it remembers

Ekadashi, the eleventh day of each lunar fortnight, comes twice a month and is sacred to Vishnu. Those who keep it fast from grains and beans, or from all food, spend the day in prayer, and break the fast the next morning in the parana time, after Hari Vasara and within Dwadashi. Each of the twenty-four Ekadashis of the year has its own name and story.

The goddess born of Vishnu

The Padma Purana tells that the demon Mura attacked Vishnu while he slept in a cave. A maiden sprang from Vishnu’s body and slew the demon. Pleased, Vishnu named her Ekadashi and granted that whoever fasted on her day would be freed from sin. Utpanna Ekadashi, in Margashirsha, keeps her birth.

Rukmangada’s kingdom

King Rukmangada made all his kingdom keep Ekadashi, so that every subject went to Vishnu’s heaven and Yama had no one to judge. Tested by the enchantress Mohini, who asked him to break the fast or give her his son’s head, he chose his son over the vow; Vishnu appeared and saved them both.

Bhima’s one fast

Bhima, who could not bear to go hungry, asked Vyasa how he could gain the merit of the year’s Ekadashis. Vyasa told him to keep one, Nirjala Ekadashi in Jyeshtha, without even water, and it would count for all twenty-four. It is still called Bhimseni Ekadashi.

Vishnu’s sleep

On Devshayani Ekadashi in Ashadha Vishnu lies down on Shesha for four months of sleep, Chaturmas, when weddings are not held; on Devutthana Ekadashi in Kartika he wakes, and Tulsi is married to him. The two Ekadashis bracket the monsoon.

Keeping Ekadashi

The fast runs from the sunrise of Ekadashi to the parana the next morning. Families keep it in many ways, strictly or simply; follow your own tradition where it differs.

  1. On Dashami, the day before, eat one simple meal before sunset and avoid grains in the evening.
  2. On Ekadashi, bathe early and take the vow (sankalpa) to fast. Keep it nirjala (no water), on fruit and milk, or without grains and beans, as your health allows.
  3. Worship Vishnu or Krishna with tulsi leaves (picked the day before: tulsi is not plucked on Ekadashi), flowers, a lamp and incense.
  4. Read the story of the day’s Ekadashi, the Vishnu Sahasranama or the Gita, and chant Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya.
  5. Many keep awake in the night with kirtan (jagaran).
  6. On Dwadashi, break the fast in the parana time shown on the page: not during Hari Vasara, best in the morning (Pratahkal), and before Dwadashi ends. Begin with tulsi water, then a simple meal.

What you need

  • Tulsi leaves, picked the day before
  • Fruit, milk and the foods allowed in the fast (sabudana, kuttu, singhara, potato)
  • A lamp, incense and flowers for Vishnu
  • The Vishnu Sahasranama or the day’s Ekadashi story

Across India

Pandharpur, Maharashtra

Ashadhi and Kartiki Ekadashi: lakhs of varkaris walk for weeks to Vitthal’s temple, singing the abhangs of Tukaram and Dnyaneshwar.

Vaishnava and ISKCON tradition

Ekadashi kept by the Vaishnava rule, which can fall a day later than the Smarta date when Dashami touches Ekadashi’s dawn.

South India

Vaikuntha Ekadashi in Margashirsha or Pausha: the northern gate (Vaikuntha Dwaram) of Vishnu temples is opened, at Srirangam and Tirumala above all.

Guruvayur, Kerala

Guruvayur Ekadashi in Vrischikam (Nov–Dec): the temple’s greatest day, with the Chembai music festival.

Across India

Nirjala Ekadashi in the heat of Jyeshtha: kept without water, with pots of water and fans given away.

When it falls

Twice a month, on Shukla Ekadashi and Krishna Ekadashi. Kept on the day the tithi holds at sunrise.

These are the usual rules. A few days can differ by a day in your tradition, so check with your temple.

Coming Ekadashi dates

New Delhi, India time

  • Thu 5 Nov 2026
  • Fri 20 Nov 2026
  • Fri 4 Dec 2026
  • Sun 20 Dec 2026
  • Sun 3 Jan 2027
  • Tue 19 Jan 2027
  • Tue 2 Feb 2027
  • Wed 17 Feb 2027
  • Wed 3 Mar 2027
  • Thu 18 Mar 2027
  • Fri 2 Apr 2027
  • Sat 17 Apr 2027

Questions

When is Ekadashi in 2026?

Thursday 5 November 2026, in New Delhi. In a few places it can fall a day apart, so the date above is worked out for your city.

When does Ekadashi fall?

Twice a month, on Shukla Ekadashi and Krishna Ekadashi. Kept on the day the tithi holds at sunrise.

How is Ekadashi kept?

Families fast, or eat no grains or beans, chant Vishnu’s names or read the Gita and break the fast tomorrow, after sunrise. Customs vary by region and family.

Who is honoured on Ekadashi?

Vishnu. The eleventh day of each lunar fortnight, sacred to Vishnu. Many people fast or avoid grains and beans, and spend the day in prayer.

What is parana, and why does it have a time?

Parana is breaking the Ekadashi fast, the next day. It is not done during Hari Vasara, the first quarter of Dwadashi; the morning (Pratahkal) is best, and Madhyahna is avoided; and it should be done before Dwadashi ends. The page works this out for your city.

Why do some calendars show two Ekadashi dates?

Smartas fast on the day Ekadashi holds at sunrise. Vaishnavas (and ISKCON) avoid any Ekadashi touched by Dashami at the hour and a half before sunrise, and then fast the next day. When that happens, the Vaishnava Ekadashi is a day later. This page follows the Smarta date.

What can be eaten on Ekadashi?

Grains and beans are avoided: no rice, wheat, dal or lentils. Fruit, milk, nuts, potatoes, sabudana and the flours of kuttu (buckwheat) and singhara (water chestnut) are commonly eaten, with sendha namak (rock salt). The strictest keep it without food or water.

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