Ekadashi And Other Vrat Days

Ekadashi

Ekadashi is the eleventh tithi of each half of the lunar month, so it comes about twice a month. It is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, and many people fast or eat simple food on this day. Each Ekadashi of the year has its own name, such as Nirjala, Devshayani and Mokshada.

How the date is fixed

The rules for Ekadashi are more detailed than for most days. The Ekadashi tithi should be present at sunrise, and some traditions also check that the previous tithi (Dashami) has ended well before sunrise. When the rules point to two days, the calendar often shows separate dates for households (Smarta) and for Vaishnava followers. The fast is usually broken the next day in a set window called parana.

Other common vrat days

• Pradosh — the 13th tithi at twilight, dedicated to Lord Shiva.
• Sankashti Chaturthi — the 4th tithi of the dark half, dedicated to Lord Ganesha, ended after moonrise.
• Purnima — the full Moon, for Satyanarayan puja and other observances.
• Amavasya — the new Moon, for remembering ancestors.
• Weekday vrats — Monday for Shiva, Tuesday for Hanuman, Thursday for Brihaspati, Friday for Santoshi Mata, Saturday for Shani.

Health first

Fasting is a personal and spiritual practice. Anyone who is unwell, pregnant, elderly or on medicine should follow a lighter form or ask their doctor. TRAC's calendar pages list vrat dates for your place.

A worked example of Ekadashi dates

In a city, Dashami ends at 5:40 a.m. on Wednesday, and sunrise is at 6:20 a.m. Ekadashi runs from 5:40 a.m. Wednesday to 7:10 a.m. Thursday. For households, Wednesday is the Ekadashi day because Ekadashi is present at sunrise. Some Vaishnava traditions require Dashami to have ended a set time (about 96 minutes) before sunrise; here it ended only 40 minutes before, so they observe Ekadashi on Thursday. This is why calendars sometimes show two dates.

Parana — breaking the fast

The fast is broken the next day, within a window after sunrise and before the Dwadashi tithi ends. Many traditions also avoid breaking it during Hari Vasara, the first quarter of Dwadashi. TRAC's calendar shows the parana time for your place.

The Ekadashis of the year

There are 24 Ekadashis in a normal year (26 in a year with Adhik Maas). Some of the best known are Nirjala (in Jyeshtha, without water), Devshayani (when Vishnu's rest begins), Prabodhini or Dev Uthani (when it ends) and Mokshada (in Margashirsha).

Common mistakes

• Using a calendar from another city. Sunrise decides the Ekadashi day.
• Fasting beyond one's health. A lighter fast is equally valid by tradition.

Frequently asked questions

Can I drink water on Ekadashi? Except for Nirjala Ekadashi, most traditions allow water, fruit and simple foods.

Why do Smarta and Vaishnava dates differ? Because of different rules about Dashami's presence near sunrise.

Key points to remember

• Ekadashi is the 11th tithi of each half-month, dedicated to Vishnu.
• The date depends on the tithi at sunrise in your city.
• Parana (breaking the fast) has its own time window.
• Health comes first; a lighter fast is a valid choice.

What is Pradosh time? About 1.5 hours around sunset on Trayodashi, dedicated to Shiva.