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The eleventh day of each lunar fortnight, observed strictly by ISKCON devotees with abstention from grains and beans, dedicated to the remembrance and devotional service of Lord Krishna
Dates 2026–2027
Mantra
हरे कृष्ण हरे कृष्ण कृष्ण कृष्ण हरे हरे । हरे राम हरे राम राम राम हरे हरे ।।
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare; Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare
The Maha-Mantra — calling upon the names of Lord Krishna and His divine energy Radha, the prescribed chant for liberation in the age of Kali
✦ Special Note
ISKCON follows the Gaudiya Vaishnava Ekadashi reckoning. Dates auto-adjust by your device timezone: India sees the master dates (ISKCON Bangalore calendar); US, UK and Australian users see dates audited per timezone against Drik Panchang's localized ISKCON list and the official vaisnavacalendar.info (VCAL) city calendars — since ISKCON computes the fast day from local sunrise, Eastern, Central, Mountain, Pacific, Alaska, Hawaii, the UK (London) and the Australian east/central/west zones can each differ by a day for some Ekadashis. 2026 is an Adhika Mas year — there are two extra Ekadashis in the leap month (Purushottama Mas): Padmini Mahadvadashi and Parama Ekadashi. Break the fast (parana) the next morning during the prescribed window — check your local ISKCON temple for the exact parana time, which varies by city.
Foods Allowed
Foods to Avoid
Meal Idea
Vaishnava-style ekadashi prasadam: fresh fruit, milk, sabudana khichdi with rock salt and roasted peanuts, kuttu pakoras, and rajgira halwa — all offered to Krishna first
📜 The story behind this vrat
Once the sage Narada Muni asked Lord Vishnu — "O Lord, what is the greatest vrat a devotee can observe?" Lord Vishnu replied — "Narada, of all vrats Ekadashi is the most sacred. On this day a demon named Mura hid inside grains and pulses to corrupt the minds of humans. When devotees avoid grains on Ekadashi they starve this demon and protect their soul from impurity. I am most pleased by this fast…
Read full katha ›
Once the sage Narada Muni asked Lord Vishnu — "O Lord, what is the greatest vrat a devotee can observe?" Lord Vishnu replied — "Narada, of all vrats Ekadashi is the most sacred. On this day a demon named Mura hid inside grains and pulses to corrupt the minds of humans. When devotees avoid grains on Ekadashi they starve this demon and protect their soul from impurity. I am most pleased by this fast above all others." Narada asked — "Who first observed this vrat?" Lord Vishnu smiled and said — "Long ago a demon named Mura terrorised the heavens and my realm. I fought him for a thousand years and grew weary. I rested in a cave called Badarikashram. From my own divine energy a beautiful maiden emerged — born of my exhaustion and my shakti — and while I slept she fought Mura alone and slew him. When I awoke and saw what she had done I granted her a boon. She said — Lord, give me a name and let those who fast on the day of my birth be freed from all sin. I named her Ekadashi — she who was born on the eleventh day. I blessed her thus: Whoever fasts on Ekadashi shall be freed from the cycle of birth and death. Their devotion shall reach me directly. The sins of seven lifetimes shall be washed away in a single Ekadashi fast observed with pure heart and full devotion. This is why Ekadashi is the most beloved fast among all Vaishnavas. It comes twice every lunar month — on the eleventh day of the waxing moon and the eleventh day of the waning moon. Each Ekadashi carries its own name and its own special blessing. Observe it with devotion, stay awake in prayer if you can, and Lord Vishnu himself will hold you in his heart."
Your family's version of this story may differ — all versions are sacred.
🪔 Aarti
Aarti Kunj Bihari Ki
आरती कुंज बिहारी की, श्री गिरिधर कृष्ण मुरारी की ॥ गले में बैजंती माला, बजावे मुरली मधुर बाला । श्रवण में कुण्डल झलकाला, नंद के आनंद नंदलाला ॥ गगन सम अंग कांति काली, राधिका चमक रही आली । लतन में ठाढ़े बनमाली, भ्रमर सी अलक, कस्तूरी तिलक, चंद्र सी झलक, ललित छवि श्यामा प्यारी की ॥ कनकमय मोर मुकुट बिलसे, देवता दरसन को तरसे । गगन सों सुमन राशि बरसे, बाजे मुरचंग, मधुर मृदंग, ग्वालिन संग, अतुल रति गोप कुमारी की ॥ जहां ते प्रगट भई गंगा, कलुष कली हारिणि श्री गंगा । स्मरण ते होत मोह भंगा, बसी शिव सीस, जटा के बीच, हरे अघ कीच, चरण छवि श्री बनवारी की ॥ चमकती उज्ज्वल तट रेणु, बज रही वृंदावन बेणु । चहुं दिसि गोपी ग्वाल धेनु, हंसत मृदु मंद, चांदनी चंद, कटत भव फंद, टेर सुन दीन भिखारी की ॥
Related vrats
Prioritising the same tradition and category, with related tradition or family entries when fewer than six exist.
- Sayana Ekadashi / Caturmasya Begins — July 25, 2026Same tradition and category
- Probodhini / Utthana Ekadashi (Caturmasya Ends) — November 20, 2026Same tradition and category
- Sri Advaita Acarya Appearance — February 22, 2027Same tradition
- Akshaya Tritiya / Chandana Yatra Begins — April 19, 2026Same tradition
- Sri Radha-kunda Avirbhava (Bahulastami) — November 4, 2026Same tradition
- Sri Balarama Avirbhava (Balarama Purnima) — August 28, 2026Same tradition
Get a reminder before the next Ekadashi
At 7pm the evening before, each time it comes around. Turn it off anytime.
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