Ekadashi is the 11th lunar day (tithi) of each fortnight — once during the waxing moon (shukla paksha) and once during the waning moon (krishna paksha). It is sacred to Lord Vishnu. Traditionally observed with fasting, japa, and seva, the day is held to dissolve accumulated sins and accelerate spiritual progress.

How many Ekadashis are there in a year?

There are 24 Ekadashis in a standard lunar year (12 months × 2 fortnights). In years with an adhika-masa (intercalary leap-month), the count rises to 26. 2026 is a regular year with 24 Ekadashis.

How is Ekadashi fasting done?

The strictest form is nirjala (no food, no water) for 24 hours from Dashami evening to Dwadashi morning. Phalahara is fruits-and-milk only. Saatvik is a single light vegetarian meal without grains, beans, or onion-garlic. Choose based on health — Krishna himself teaches in the Padma Purana that intent matters more than rigour.

What sevas are traditionally offered on Ekadashi?

Vishnu archana, Vishnu sahasranama paath, tulasi pooja, Bhagavad Gita parayana, annadana (especially to brahmins observing the fast), gauseva, and visit to a Vishnu temple. SevaCart partner temples accept all of these as remote bookings with photo proof.

What is Nirjala Ekadashi?

Nirjala Ekadashi falls in the shukla paksha of Jyeshtha month (May-June). It is the strictest Ekadashi — fasting without even water for 24 hours. Tradition holds that observing only this one Ekadashi gives the merit of observing all 24 in the year. In 2026 it falls on Wednesday, 27 May.

Ekadashi 2026 — all 24 dates, names, fasting rules

1. What Ekadashi is

The lunar month is 30 tithis long. Each fortnight has its 11th tithi — Ekadashi. The Padma Purana, the Vishnu Purana, and the Bhagavata Purana all describe Ekadashi as the day on which the doors of Vaikuntha (Vishnu’s abode) are most open to a devotee’s sankalpa.

Twenty-four Ekadashis fall in a regular lunar year (twelve months × two fortnights). When an adhika-masa (intercalary leap month) occurs, the year holds twenty-six. 2026 is a regular year with 24 Ekadashis.

2. The 24 dates of 2026

Sunrise-tithi calibration. Some northern panchangs may differ by one day in border cases — defer to your family priest if in doubt.

Date	Day	Paksha	Name	Invoked form
09 Jan 2026	Friday	Krishna	Saphala	Vishnu — fulfilment of work
25 Jan 2026	Sunday	Shukla	Pausha Putrada	Vishnu — for progeny
08 Feb 2026	Sunday	Krishna	Shattila	Vishnu — six uses of sesame
23 Feb 2026	Monday	Shukla	Jaya	Vishnu — release from ghost-states
09 Mar 2026	Monday	Krishna	Vijaya	Rama — victory in adversities
25 Mar 2026	Wednesday	Shukla	Amalaki	Vishnu — purity, amalaki sacred
08 Apr 2026	Wednesday	Krishna	Papamochani	Vishnu — release from past karma
24 Apr 2026	Friday	Shukla	Kamada	Vishnu — fulfilment of desires
07 May 2026	Thursday	Krishna	Varuthini	Vamana — protection
24 May 2026	Sunday	Shukla	Mohini	Mohini — release from delusion
06 Jun 2026	Saturday	Krishna	Apara	Vishnu — limitless merit
22 Jun 2026	Monday	Shukla	Nirjala	Vishnu — strictest fast, all-Ekadashi merit
06 Jul 2026	Monday	Krishna	Yogini	Vishnu — release from skin diseases
22 Jul 2026	Wednesday	Shukla	Devshayani	Vishnu falls asleep on Sheshanaga
04 Aug 2026	Tuesday	Krishna	Kamika	Vishnu — relieves accumulated sin
21 Aug 2026	Friday	Shukla	Putrada	Vishnu — for progeny
03 Sep 2026	Thursday	Krishna	Aja	Vishnu — unborn, eternal
19 Sep 2026	Saturday	Shukla	Parsva	Vishnu turns sides while sleeping
03 Oct 2026	Saturday	Krishna	Indira	Vishnu — for liberation of ancestors
18 Oct 2026	Sunday	Shukla	Papankusha	Vishnu — destroys sin
01 Nov 2026	Sunday	Krishna	Rama	Rama — destroys all sins
16 Nov 2026	Monday	Shukla	Devuthana	Vishnu awakens — Tulsi Vivah season opens
01 Dec 2026	Tuesday	Krishna	Utpanna	Vishnu — Ekadashi-devi born from Vishnu
16 Dec 2026	Wednesday	Shukla	Mokshada	Vishnu — Gita Jayanti, gives moksha

3. Fasting — three levels

Nirjala — no food and no water for 24 hours from Dashami sunset to Dwadashi sunrise. Strictest. Tradition holds that observing only Nirjala Ekadashi (22 June 2026 this year) gives the merit of observing all 24.
Phalahara — fruits, milk, sabudana, and water permitted. Grains, beans, onion, and garlic avoided.
Saatvik — one light vegetarian meal, no grains, no beans, no onion-garlic.

Health-permitting, choose the level you can sustain consistently — the Padma Purana stresses that the devotee’s sankalpa matters more than rigour.

4. Sevas traditionally offered on Ekadashi

Vishnu archana — sahasranama parayana ideal, ashtottara minimum.
Tulasi pooja — water, kumkum, akshata around the tulasi plant; lamps lit at sunset.
Bhagavad Gita parayana — full Gita, or one chapter on each Ekadashi cycle.
Annadana — feeding brahmins observing the fast on Dwadashi morning (parana).
Gauseva — feeding cows, especially with jaggery and tulasi leaves.
Vishnu temple visit — Tirupati, Pandharpur, Srirangam, Guruvayur, Badrinath if accessible.

5. Parana — breaking the fast

Ekadashi fast is broken at sunrise on Dwadashi (the next day), within a specific window called parana. Breaking too early or too late forfeits the fast’s merit. Each Ekadashi listing on the SevaCart panchang shows the exact parana time for your chosen city.

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