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Ekadashi: the eleventh lunar day

Ekadashi is the 11th tithi in each half of the lunar month — about twice a month. In Indian tradition it is a day of fasting and spiritual practice devoted to Vishnu. The date depends on the place: Ekadashi is kept on the day when that tithi is current at local sunrise.

JyotiSoft editorial team · dates checked by calculation

In short

About 24 Ekadashis a year; 26 in a lunar leap year.
The date is set by the tithi at local sunrise.
The fast is broken in the parana window the next morning.
Grains and pulses are traditionally avoided.
The fast is a spiritual practice, not a medical recommendation.

What Ekadashi is

Ekadashi means “eleventh”. It is the 11th tithi of shukla paksha (waxing Moon) and krishna paksha (waning Moon). Each Ekadashi of the year has its own name and story in the Puranas: Nirjala, Vaikuntha, Devshayani and others.

How the date is set

Ekadashi is observed on the day when the Ekadashi tithi is current at local sunrise. So the date in London, New York and Delhi can differ. When Ekadashi spans two sunrises or overlaps with the preceding tithi, Vaishnava calendars apply additional rules. The correct date comes only from the panchang for your city.

The fast and parana

The traditional fast avoids grains and pulses; the strict form is without water (nirjala). The fast is broken the next day (Dwadashi) within the parana window — after sunrise and before the first quarter of Dwadashi ends. People with health conditions, pregnant women and children are not advised to keep strict fasts; decide with a doctor.

Ekadashi in JyotiSoft

The JyotiSoft calendar shows Ekadashi and the parana time for your city, calculated from local sunrise and checked against reference panchangs.

Questions

How many Ekadashis are there in a year?

Usually 24; in a year with an extra lunar month (adhika masa), 26.

Why do Ekadashi dates differ between sites?

The date depends on the tithi at local sunrise and on the tradition's rules (Smarta or Vaishnava).

What is parana?

The window the next morning in which the Ekadashi fast is broken.

Do I have to fast?

No. It is a voluntary spiritual practice; its point is focus, not hunger.

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