Ekadashi: the eleventh tithi and its observance
Ekadashi is the eleventh tithi of each lunar fortnight, observed as a day of fasting and prayer in many Hindu traditions. There are about two in each lunar month.
What it is
Ekadashi is determined by the tithi, so its date follows the tithi at sunrise. When a tithi begins or ends near sunrise, some traditions observe it on a different day, which is why the Ekadashi date can differ between calendars.
How it is worked out or read
The site lists tithis, including the eleventh, in the panchang. The choice of which day to observe is a matter of the tradition followed, and the site does not decide it.
Where it appears on this site
The tithi is in the panchang. See tithi explained for how tithis are numbered.
The eleventh tithi and its observance
Ekadashi is the eleventh tithi of each lunar fortnight, observed in many Hindu traditions as a day of fasting and prayer. There are about two in each lunar month, one in each fortnight. The observance is set by the tithi, so its date follows the tithi at sunrise in most calendars.
Why dates differ between calendars
When an ekadashi begins or ends close to sunrise, some traditions observe it on one day and others on the next. The difference is a matter of the rule followed, not an error. A reader who keeps to one tradition should check its rule for the cases where the tithi straddles a sunrise, and follow that rule consistently.
Using the calendar for planning
A panchang shows the tithi and its end time, which is the information needed to see which day the ekadashi falls on under a given rule. Planners who keep an ekadashi calendar should record the rule they use with the dates, so that future years are kept consistent.
Observing the fast with a clear rule
Families and individuals who observe ekadashi often find it helpful to write down the rule they follow before the year begins. A clear note might say whether the fast is kept on the day the tithi is present at sunrise, or on the day the tithi ends in a particular window, or by a regional custom. Once the rule is written, the dates for the whole year can be listed in advance, and the family can plan meals, work and travel around them without confusion.
A rule written down also protects against changes in habit, since the same person may observe slightly differently in different years without noticing. A written rule keeps the observance steady and makes it easy to explain to others.
Which ekadashi dates are most common to discuss
Some ekadashis are widely observed across India and are discussed in popular writing, while others belong to particular regions or sects. The reader interested in a particular ekadashi should check the local tradition and the calendar used, rather than rely on a general table, since names and observances vary across communities.