Vrat · 2026
Ekadashi 2026 — all dates
Ekadashi, the eleventh lunar day of each fortnight, is the most widely kept fast in the Hindu calendar, dedicated to Vishnu and observed twice a month.
Dates in 2026
| Name | Date | Tithi | Gauna (alternate) | Parana (next day) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shattila Ekadashi | 14 Jan 2026Wednesday | 13 Jan, 3:18 PM – 14 Jan, 5:53 PM | — | 15 Jan, 7:14 AM – 9:21 AM |
| Jaya Ekadashi | 29 Jan 2026Thursday | 28 Jan, 4:36 PM – 29 Jan, 1:55 PM | — | 30 Jan, 7:10 AM – 9:20 AM |
| Vijaya Ekadashi | 13 Feb 2026Friday | 12 Feb, 12:22 PM – 13 Feb, 2:26 PM | — | 14 Feb, 7:00 AM – 9:14 AM |
| Amalaki Ekadashi | 27 Feb 2026Friday | 27 Feb, 12:33 AM – 27 Feb, 10:33 PM | — | 28 Feb, 6:47 AM – 9:06 AM |
| Papmochani Ekadashi | 15 Mar 2026Sunday | 14 Mar, 8:11 AM – 15 Mar, 9:17 AM | — | 16 Mar, 6:29 AM – 8:53 AM |
| Kamada Ekadashi | 29 Mar 2026Sunday | 28 Mar, 8:46 AM – 29 Mar, 7:46 AM | — | 30 Mar, 6:13 AM – 7:10 AM |
| Varuthini Ekadashi | 13 Apr 2026Monday | 13 Apr, 1:17 AM – 14 Apr, 1:09 AM | — | 14 Apr, 6:55 AM – 8:30 AM |
| Mohini Ekadashi | 27 Apr 2026Monday | 26 Apr, 6:07 PM – 27 Apr, 6:16 PM | — | 28 Apr, 5:43 AM – 8:21 AM |
| Apara Ekadashi | 13 May 2026Wednesday | 12 May, 2:53 PM – 13 May, 1:30 PM | — | 14 May, 5:31 AM – 8:13 AM |
| Padmini Ekadashi | 27 May 2026Wednesday | 26 May, 5:11 AM – 27 May, 6:22 AM | — | 28 May, 5:24 AM – 7:57 AM |
| Parama Ekadashi | 11 Jun 2026Thursday | 11 Jun, 12:58 AM – 11 Jun, 10:36 PM | — | 12 Jun, 5:22 AM – 8:09 AM |
| Nirjala Ekadashi | 25 Jun 2026Thursday | 24 Jun, 6:12 PM – 25 Jun, 8:09 PM | — | 26 Jun, 5:25 AM – 8:12 AM |
| Yogini Ekadashi | 10 Jul 2026Friday | 10 Jul, 8:16 AM – 11 Jul, 5:23 AM | 11 Jul 2026 | 11 Jul, 1:49 PM – 4:35 PM |
| Devshayani Ekadashi | 25 Jul 2026Saturday | 24 Jul, 9:13 AM – 25 Jul, 11:34 AM | — | 26 Jul, 5:39 AM – 8:22 AM |
| Kamika Ekadashi | 9 Aug 2026Sunday | 8 Aug, 1:59 PM – 9 Aug, 11:05 AM | — | 10 Aug, 5:47 AM – 8:01 AM |
| Shravana Putrada Ekadashi | 23 Aug 2026Sunday | 23 Aug, 2:00 AM – 24 Aug, 4:19 AM | — | 24 Aug, 1:40 PM – 4:16 PM |
| Aja Ekadashi | 7 Sep 2026Monday | 6 Sep, 7:29 PM – 7 Sep, 5:04 PM | — | 8 Sep, 6:02 AM – 8:32 AM |
| Parsva (Parivartini) Ekadashi | 22 Sep 2026Tuesday | 21 Sep, 8:01 PM – 22 Sep, 9:43 PM | — | 23 Sep, 6:09 AM – 8:35 AM |
| Indira Ekadashi | 6 Oct 2026Tuesday | 6 Oct, 2:07 AM – 7 Oct, 12:34 AM | — | 7 Oct, 6:17 AM – 8:37 AM |
| Papankusha Ekadashi | 22 Oct 2026Thursday | 21 Oct, 2:12 PM – 22 Oct, 2:48 PM | — | 23 Oct, 6:26 AM – 8:42 AM |
| Rama Ekadashi | 5 Nov 2026Thursday | 4 Nov, 11:03 AM – 5 Nov, 10:36 AM | — | 6 Nov, 6:36 AM – 8:47 AM |
| Devutthana (Prabodhini) Ekadashi | 20 Nov 2026Friday | 20 Nov, 7:16 AM – 21 Nov, 6:31 AM | 21 Nov 2026 | 21 Nov, 1:10 PM – 3:17 PM |
| Utpanna Ekadashi | 4 Dec 2026Friday | 3 Dec, 11:03 PM – 4 Dec, 11:45 PM | — | 5 Dec, 6:59 AM – 9:04 AM |
| Mokshada Ekadashi | 20 Dec 2026Sunday | 19 Dec, 10:09 PM – 20 Dec, 8:15 PM | — | 21 Dec, 7:09 AM – 9:13 AM |
Times for New Delhi (our own calculation, Lahiri ayanamsa). Full festival calendar
Dates in 2027
| Name | Date | Tithi | Gauna (alternate) | Parana (next day) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saphala Ekadashi | 3 Jan 2027Sunday | 2 Jan, 2:24 PM – 3 Jan, 4:08 PM | — | 4 Jan, 7:14 AM – 9:19 AM |
| Pausha Putrada Ekadashi | 18 Jan 2027Monday | 18 Jan, 10:27 AM – 19 Jan, 7:49 AM | 19 Jan 2027 | 19 Jan, 1:35 PM – 3:42 PM |
| Shattila Ekadashi | 2 Feb 2027Tuesday | 1 Feb, 8:41 AM – 2 Feb, 11:10 AM | — | 3 Feb, 7:08 AM – 9:18 AM |
| Jaya Ekadashi | 17 Feb 2027Wednesday | 16 Feb, 8:19 PM – 17 Feb, 5:32 PM | — | 18 Feb, 6:57 AM – 9:12 AM |
| Vijaya Ekadashi | 4 Mar 2027Thursday | 3 Mar, 4:44 AM – 4 Mar, 7:24 AM | — | 5 Mar, 6:42 AM – 9:02 AM |
| Amalaki Ekadashi | 18 Mar 2027Thursday | 18 Mar, 4:21 AM – 19 Mar, 1:51 AM | — | 19 Mar, 7:13 AM – 8:51 AM |
| Papmochani Ekadashi | 2 Apr 2027Friday | 2 Apr, 12:45 AM – 3 Apr, 2:52 AM | — | 3 Apr, 1:39 PM – 4:09 PM |
| Kamada Ekadashi | 17 Apr 2027Saturday | 16 Apr, 11:22 AM – 17 Apr, 9:28 AM | — | 18 Apr, 5:53 AM – 7:42 AM |
| Varuthini Ekadashi | 2 May 2027Sunday | 1 May, 6:54 PM – 2 May, 7:52 PM | — | 3 May, 5:39 AM – 8:18 AM |
| Mohini Ekadashi | 16 May 2027Sunday | 15 May, 6:17 PM – 16 May, 5:13 PM | — | 17 May, 5:29 AM – 8:12 AM |
| Apara Ekadashi | 1 Jun 2027Tuesday | 31 May, 10:02 AM – 1 Jun, 9:40 AM | — | 2 Jun, 5:23 AM – 8:09 AM |
| Nirjala Ekadashi | 14 Jun 2027Monday | 14 Jun, 2:12 AM – 15 Jun, 2:08 AM | — | 15 Jun, 1:45 PM – 4:32 PM |
| Yogini Ekadashi | 30 Jun 2027Wednesday | 29 Jun, 10:04 PM – 30 Jun, 8:31 PM | — | 1 Jul, 5:26 AM – 8:13 AM |
| Devshayani Ekadashi | 14 Jul 2027Wednesday | 13 Jul, 12:09 PM – 14 Jul, 1:10 PM | — | 15 Jul, 5:32 AM – 8:18 AM |
| Kamika Ekadashi | 29 Jul 2027Thursday | 29 Jul, 7:34 AM – 30 Jul, 5:13 AM | 30 Jul 2027 | 30 Jul, 1:48 PM – 4:31 PM |
| Shravana Putrada Ekadashi | 12 Aug 2027Thursday | 12 Aug, 12:59 AM – 13 Aug, 3:00 AM | — | 13 Aug, 1:45 PM – 4:23 PM |
| Aja Ekadashi | 28 Aug 2027Saturday | 27 Aug, 3:25 PM – 28 Aug, 12:42 PM | — | 29 Aug, 5:57 AM – 8:31 AM |
| Parsva (Parivartini) Ekadashi | 11 Sep 2027Saturday | 10 Sep, 5:00 PM – 11 Sep, 7:36 PM | — | 12 Sep, 6:04 AM – 8:33 AM |
| Indira Ekadashi | 26 Sep 2027Sunday | 25 Sep, 10:31 PM – 26 Sep, 7:49 PM | — | 27 Sep, 6:11 AM – 8:35 AM |
| Papankusha Ekadashi | 11 Oct 2027Monday | 10 Oct, 11:41 AM – 11 Oct, 2:09 PM | — | 12 Oct, 6:19 AM – 8:38 AM |
| Rama Ekadashi | 25 Oct 2027Monday | 25 Oct, 5:40 AM – 26 Oct, 3:22 AM | — | 26 Oct, 1:12 PM – 3:26 PM |
| Devutthana (Prabodhini) Ekadashi | 10 Nov 2027Wednesday | 9 Nov, 7:35 AM – 10 Nov, 9:11 AM | — | 11 Nov, 6:40 AM – 8:50 AM |
| Utpanna Ekadashi | 24 Nov 2027Wednesday | 23 Nov, 1:45 PM – 24 Nov, 12:11 PM | — | 25 Nov, 6:51 AM – 8:57 AM |
| Mokshada Ekadashi | 9 Dec 2027Thursday | 9 Dec, 2:59 AM – 10 Dec, 3:20 AM | — | 10 Dec, 1:15 PM – 3:20 PM |
| Saphala Ekadashi | 23 Dec 2027Thursday | 22 Dec, 11:41 PM – 23 Dec, 11:12 PM | — | 24 Dec, 7:10 AM – 9:14 AM |
What is Ekadashi?
Ekadashi is the eleventh tithi, or lunar day, of each paksha — the waxing (Shukla) and the waning (Krishna) fortnight. That makes two Ekadashis a month and usually 24 in a year; in a year with an adhik (extra) month there are 26, the two additional ones being Padmini and Parama. Each Ekadashi has its own name and story — Nirjala in Jyeshtha, Devshayani in Ashadha, when Vishnu is said to begin his four months of rest, and Devutthana in Kartika, when he wakes. All of them are dedicated to Vishnu.
The Padma Purana tells how the demon Mura attacked Vishnu while he slept, and a goddess arose from Vishnu’s own body and destroyed him. Pleased, Vishnu named her Ekadashi and granted that whoever fasted on her day would be freed of their sins. This is the story told on Utpanna Ekadashi, the day she is said to have appeared. The other Ekadashis carry their own katha, usually told as a conversation between Krishna and Yudhishthira, in which a king or a devotee is helped by keeping the fast with sincerity.
People keep Ekadashi for different reasons. For many it is a fortnightly day of devotion and self-discipline: lighter food, prayer, reading or chanting, and fewer distractions. Some keep it with a particular wish in mind, since each named Ekadashi is traditionally linked to one, such as Putrada Ekadashi with children. Others value it simply as a regular pause from grains and heavy meals. The scriptures describe its merits in generous terms; how you understand them is a matter of your own faith.
How it is observed
- The fast runs from sunrise on Ekadashi to the parana on the next day. Many eat a single simple, sattvic meal on Dashami evening, before the fast begins.
- Grains and pulses, rice above all, are traditionally avoided. Fruit, milk, curd, nuts and phalahar foods such as sabudana, kuttu, singhara and potato are commonly eaten; the exact custom differs from family to family.
- The fast can be kept at different levels: nirjala (without water), phalahar (fruit and milk), or one meal without grains. Choose what suits your body; no single level is required of everyone.
- The day is given to Vishnu: tulsi leaves, a lamp, the Vishnu Sahasranama or a mantra such as Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya, and the katha of that Ekadashi. Tulsi is usually picked the day before, as many avoid plucking it on Ekadashi.
- Some stay awake at night singing bhajans (jagaran), and many give food or grain in charity.
- Parana is on Dwadashi, within the window shown in the list: after Hari Vasara, ideally early in the day, and before Dwadashi ends. The fast is usually broken with something light, often with a little tulsi water.
- Anyone who is pregnant or nursing, elderly, diabetic, on regular medication or unwell can keep a lighter fast — fruit and milk, or one meal — or simply keep the day in prayer. If you have a health condition, ask your doctor before fasting.
How the date is fixed
We follow the Smarta rule. The Ekadashi fast falls on the day when Ekadashi, the eleventh tithi, is running at sunrise. If Ekadashi begins and ends between two sunrises without touching either (a kshaya tithi), the fast is on the day it begins. If it spans two sunrises, the fast is on the second day. One exception: if keeping the fast on that day would leave no Dwadashi for the parana, because Dwadashi ends before the following sunrise, the fast moves one day earlier. When another day is also possible, the list shows it as the gauna (alternate) Ekadashi; sannyasis, Vaishnavas and those who fast for moksha may keep that one. Parana is on the next day, after Hari Vasara (the first quarter of Dwadashi) — preferably in pratah kaal, the first fifth of the daylight hours; if that is not possible, in aparahna; and never after Dwadashi has ended.
Where practice differs
Vaishnava and ISKCON calendars use a stricter test: if Dashami is still running at arunodaya, 96 minutes before sunrise, the day is treated as touched by Dashami and the fast moves to the next day. That is why their date is sometimes a day later than a Smarta panchang. Names also vary by region: Parsva Ekadashi is called Parivartini or Jaljhulni in much of North India, and Devutthana is also known as Prabodhini or Dev Uthani Ekadashi.
Dates and times are computed by our own engine (sunrise, tithi and kalas for New Delhi, Lahiri ayanamsa). In another city, or in an almanac of another tradition, the day can differ by one — follow your family’s tradition.
Questions people ask
Why are there sometimes two Ekadashi dates?
When Ekadashi spans two sunrises, or Dwadashi would run out too early, the calendar gives a Smarta date and an alternate (gauna) date. Householders usually keep the Smarta date, while sannyasis and Vaishnavas often keep the alternate. Vaishnava calendars can also differ by a day because they check for Dashami at arunodaya.
Can I drink water on Ekadashi?
Yes, unless you choose a nirjala fast. Most people drink water and take fruit and milk; only Nirjala Ekadashi is traditionally kept without water, and even that can be relaxed if your health needs it.
When should I break the Ekadashi fast?
On Dwadashi, the next day, inside the parana window shown in the list: after Hari Vasara and before Dwadashi ends, ideally early in the day.
What are the names of the 24 Ekadashis?
In order from Chaitra Shukla: Kamada, Varuthini, Mohini, Apara, Nirjala, Yogini, Devshayani, Kamika, Shravana Putrada, Aja, Parsva (Parivartini), Indira, Papankusha, Rama, Devutthana (Prabodhini), Utpanna, Mokshada, Saphala, Pausha Putrada, Shattila, Jaya, Vijaya, Amalaki and Papmochani. In a year with an adhik maas, Padmini and Parama are added.