Ekādaśī (ekāhdaśī, “Eleven”), also spelled as Ekādaśi, is the eleventh lunar day (tithi) of each of the two lunar phases which occur in a Hindu calendar month – the Sukla Paksha (the period of the brightening moon also known as the waxing phase) and the Krishna Paksha (the period of the fading moon also known as the waning phase).
In Hinduism and Jainism, Ekādaśī is considered a spiritual day and is usually observed by partial fast. Beans and grains are not consumed by observant people during because they are believed to be contaminated by sin. Instead, only fruit, vegetables, and milk products are eaten. This period of abstinence starts from sunrise on the day of Ekādaśī to sunset on the following day.
Hindu rules state that anyone between the ages of eight years and eighty years should fast, including forgoing water. However, people who are sick, have health issues, or are pregnant are exempt from the rule and may consume light food including milk and fruits.
The timing of each Ekādaśī is according to the position of the moon.The Hindu calendar marks progression from a full moon to a new moon as divided into fifteen equal arcs. Each arc measures one lunar day, called a tithi. The time it takes the moon to traverse a particular distance is the length of that lunar day. Ekādaśī refers to the 11th tithi, or lunar day. The eleventh tithi corresponds to a precise phase of the waxing and waning moon. In the bright half of the lunar month, the moon will appear roughly 3/4 full on Ekādaśī, and in the dark half of the lunar month, the moon will be about 3/4 dark on Ekādaśī.
There are usually 24 Ekādaśīs in a calendar year. Occasionally, there are two extra Ekādaśīs that happen in a leap year. Each Ekādaśī day is purported to have particular benefits and blessings that are attained by the performance of specific activities.
| January 01 | Saphla Ekadashi | सफला एकादशी |
| January 17 | Putrada Ekadashi | पुत्रदा एकादशी |
| January 31 | Shattila Ekadashi | षट्तिला एकादशी |
| February 16 | Jaya Ekadashi | जया एकादशी |
| March 02 | Vijaya Ekadashi | विजया एकादशी |
| March 17 | Amalaki Ekadashi | आमलकी एकादशी |
| March 31 | Papmochani Ekadashi | पापमोचिनी एकादशी |
| April 15 | Kamada Ekadashi | कामदा एकादशी |
| April 30 | Varuthini Ekadashi | वरूथिनी एकादशी |
| May 15 | Mohini Ekadashi | मोहिनी एकादशी |
| May 30 | Apara Ekadashi | अपरा एकादशी |
| June 13 | Nirjala Ekadashi | निर्जला एकादशी |
| June 29 | Yogini Ekadashi | योगिनी एकादशी |
| July 12 | Devshayani Ekadashi | देवशयनी एकादशी |
| July 28 | Kamika Ekadashi | कामिका एकादशी |
| August 11 | Putrada Ekadashi | पुत्रदा एकादशी |
| August 26 | Aja Ekadashi | अजा एकादशी |
| September 09 | Padma Ekadashi | पद्मा एकादशी |
| September 25 | Indira Ekadashi | इंदिरा एकादशी |
| October 09 | Papankusha Ekadashi | पापांकुशा एकादशी |
| October 24 | Rama Ekadashi | रमा एकादशी |
| November 08 | Devutthana Ekadashi | देवोत्थान एकादशी |
| November 22 | Utpanna Ekadashi | उत्पन्ना एकादशी |
| December 08 | Mokshada Ekadashi | मोक्षदा एकादशी |
| December 22 | Saphla Ekadashi | सफला एकादशी |