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.
| दिनांक | त्यौहार |
|---|---|
| सोमवार, 06 जनवरी | पौष पुत्रदा एकादशी |
| सोमवार, 20 जनवरी | षटतिला एकादशी |
| बुधवार, 05 फरवरी | जया एकादशी |
| बुधवार, 19 फरवरी | विजया एकादशी |
| शुक्रवार, 06 मार्च | आमलकी एकादशी |
| गुरुवार, 19 मार्च | पापमोचिनी एकादशी |
| शनिवार, 04 अप्रैल | कामदा एकादशी |
| शनिवार, 18 अप्रैल | वरुथिनी एकादशी |
| सोमवार, 04 मई | मोहिनी एकादशी |
| सोमवार, 18 मई | अपरा एकादशी |
| मंगलवार, 02 जून | निर्जला एकादशी |
| बुधवार, 17 जून | योगिनी एकादशी |
| बुधवार, 01 जुलाई | देवशयनी एकादशी |
| गुरुवार, 16 जुलाई | कामिका एकादशी |
| गुरुवार, 30 जुलाई | श्रावण पुत्रदा एकादशी |
| शनिवार, 15 अगस्त | अजा एकादशी |
| शनिवार, 29 अगस्त | परिवर्तिनी एकादशी |
| रविवार, 13 सितंबर | इन्दिरा एकादशी |
| रविवार, 27 सितंबर | पद्मिनी एकादशी |
| मंगलवार, 13 अक्टूबर | परम एकादशी |
| मंगलवार, 27 अक्टूबर | पापांकुशा एकादशी |
| बुधवार, 11 नवंबर | रमा एकादशी |
| बुधवार, 25 नवंबर | देवुत्थान एकादशी |
| शुक्रवार, 11 दिसंबर | उत्पन्ना एकादशी |
| शुक्रवार, 25 दिसंबर | मोक्षदा एकादशी |