Table of Contents
- 1. Is Today Ekadashi?
- 2. When Is Ekadashi This Month?
- 3. Ekadashi Calendar 2026
- 4. Ekadashi Dates Month by Month, 2026
- When is Ekadashi in January 2026?
- When is Ekadashi in February 2026?
- When is Ekadashi in March 2026?
- When is Ekadashi in April 2026?
- When is Ekadashi in May 2026?
- When is Ekadashi in June 2026?
- When is Ekadashi in July 2026?
- When is Ekadashi in August 2026?
- When is Ekadashi in September 2026?
- When is Ekadashi in October 2026?
- When is Ekadashi in November 2026?
- When is Ekadashi in December 2026?
- 5. What Is Ekadashi?
- The Purpose of Ekadashi in Srila Prabhupada's Teachings
- 6. How to Observe the Ekadashi Fast
- What to Do on Ekadashi
- 7. What to Eat and What Not to Eat on Ekadashi
- Foods generally accepted
- Foods generally avoided
- 8. When to Break the Ekadashi Fast (Parana)
- 9. Who Can Observe the Ekadashi Fast?
- 10. Why ISKCON and Smarta Ekadashi Dates Can Differ
- 11. Conclusion
- 12. Frequently Asked Questions
- 13. Related Articles
Find all 24 ISKCON (Vaishnava) Ekadashi fasting dates for 2026, the next Ekadashi, the dates for each month, what to eat, and when to break the fast (parana).
Also in Hindi: एकादशी कब है 2026
Indira Ekadashi
Parana (breaking the fast): on , within the parana time for your location. Check your local Vaishnava calendar or temple for the exact time.
Is Today Ekadashi?
As of 5 October 2026, today is not Ekadashi. The next Ekadashi is Indira Ekadashi on Tuesday, 6 October 2026.
The answer is worked out from the 2026 calendar on this page, using today's date in India (IST). Outside India, check your local ISKCON temple's calendar, because the fasting day can occasionally differ by one day.
When Is Ekadashi This Month?
In October 2026, Ekadashi falls on 6 October (Indira Ekadashi) and 22 October (Pashankusha Ekadashi).
- Tuesday: Indira Ekadashi
- Thursday: Pashankusha Ekadashi
Ekadashi Calendar 2026
These are the 24 Ekadashi fasting days of 2026 in the ISKCON (Gaudiya Vaishnava) calendar, calculated for India. The last column gives the parana date: the day after Ekadashi, when you break the fast.
| Month | Ekadashi | Fasting date | Day | Paksha | Parana / note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Shattila Ekadashi | Wednesday | Krishna | ||
| Bhaimi EkadashiAlso known as Jaya Ekadashi | Thursday | Shukla | |||
| February | Vijaya Ekadashi | Friday | Krishna | ||
| Amalaki Ekadashi | Friday | Shukla | |||
| March | Papamochani Ekadashi | Sunday | Krishna | ||
| Kamada Ekadashi | Sunday | Shukla | |||
| April | Varuthini Ekadashi | Monday | Krishna | ||
| Mohini Ekadashi | Monday | Shukla | |||
| May | Apara Ekadashi | Wednesday | Krishna | ||
| Padmini Ekadashi | Wednesday | Shukla | Purushottama (adhika) month | ||
| June | Parama Ekadashi | Thursday | Krishna | Purushottama (adhika) month | |
| Pandava Nirjala EkadashiAlso known as Nirjala or Bhima Ekadashi | Thursday | Shukla | Traditionally kept without water | ||
| July | Yogini Ekadashi | Saturday | Krishna | ||
| Shayani EkadashiAlso known as Devshayani Ekadashi | Saturday | Shukla | Chaturmasya begins (Ekadashi system) | ||
| August | Kamika Ekadashi | Sunday | Krishna | ||
| Pavitropana EkadashiAlso known as Shravana Putrada Ekadashi | Monday | Shukla | |||
| September | Annada EkadashiAlso known as Aja Ekadashi | Monday | Krishna | ||
| Parshva Ekadashi | Tuesday | Shukla | |||
| October | Indira Ekadashi | Tuesday | Krishna | ||
| Pashankusha EkadashiAlso known as Papankusha Ekadashi | Thursday | Shukla | |||
| November | Rama Ekadashi | Thursday | Krishna | ||
| Utthana EkadashiAlso known as Devutthani or Prabodhini Ekadashi | Saturday | Shukla | Chaturmasya ends (Ekadashi system) | ||
| December | Utpanna Ekadashi | Friday | Krishna | ||
| Mokshada Ekadashi | Sunday | Shukla | Gita Jayanti |
The exact parana time depends on local sunrise and on when Dvadashi ends, so it is not listed here. If your local temple announces a different fasting date, follow your temple.
Ekadashi Dates Month by Month, 2026
When is Ekadashi in January 2026?
Shattila Ekadashi falls on , and Bhaimi Ekadashi on . Bhaimi Ekadashi is also known as Jaya Ekadashi.
When is Ekadashi in February 2026?
Vijaya Ekadashi falls on , and Amalaki Ekadashi on .
When is Ekadashi in March 2026?
Papamochani Ekadashi falls on , and Kamada Ekadashi on .
When is Ekadashi in April 2026?
Varuthini Ekadashi falls on , and Mohini Ekadashi on .
When is Ekadashi in May 2026?
Apara Ekadashi falls on , and Padmini Ekadashi on . Padmini Ekadashi falls in the Purushottama (adhika) month, an extra lunar month added about once every three years.
When is Ekadashi in June 2026?
Parama Ekadashi falls on , and Pandava Nirjala Ekadashi on . Parama Ekadashi also falls in the Purushottama month. Pandava Nirjala Ekadashi is traditionally kept without water; fast only as your health allows.
When is Ekadashi in July 2026?
Yogini Ekadashi falls on , and Shayani Ekadashi on . For those who keep Chaturmasya by the Ekadashi system, it begins on Shayani Ekadashi.
When is Ekadashi in August 2026?
Kamika Ekadashi falls on , and Pavitropana Ekadashi on . Pavitropana Ekadashi is also known as Shravana Putrada Ekadashi.
When is Ekadashi in September 2026?
Annada Ekadashi falls on , and Parshva Ekadashi on . Annada Ekadashi is also known as Aja Ekadashi.
When is Ekadashi in October 2026?
Indira Ekadashi falls on , and Pashankusha Ekadashi on . Pashankusha Ekadashi is also known as Papankusha Ekadashi.
When is Ekadashi in November 2026?
Rama Ekadashi falls on , and Utthana Ekadashi on . Utthana Ekadashi (Devutthani or Prabodhini Ekadashi) ends Chaturmasya for those who follow the Ekadashi system.
When is Ekadashi in December 2026?
Utpanna Ekadashi falls on , and Mokshada Ekadashi on . Mokshada Ekadashi is also observed as Gita Jayanti, the day the Bhagavad-gita was spoken.
What Is Ekadashi?
Ekadashi is the 11th tithi (lunar day) of each lunar fortnight, so it usually comes twice a month. For Vaishnavas it is a day to reduce eating, avoid all grains and beans, and give more time to remembering Lord Sri Krishna: chanting His names, hearing about Him and serving Him.
- Tithi
- A lunar day. A lunar month has 30 tithis.
- Paksha
- A lunar fortnight. In Krishna Paksha the moon is waning; in Shukla Paksha it is waxing.
- Dvadashi
- The 12th tithi, the day after Ekadashi. The fast is broken on this day.
- Parana
- Breaking the Ekadashi fast within the proper time on Dvadashi.
The Purpose of Ekadashi in Srila Prabhupada's Teachings
In The Nectar of Devotion, Srila Prabhupada explains that the main point of Ekadashi is not the fast itself but increasing one's love for Krishna:
"The basic principle is not just to fast but to increase one's faith and love for Govinda, or Kṛṣṇa. The real reason for observing fasting on Ekādaśī is to minimize the demands of the body and to engage our time in the service of the Lord by chanting or performing similar service. The best thing to do on fasting days is to remember the pastimes of Govinda and to hear His holy name constantly."
So the useful question on Ekadashi is not only "What should I avoid eating today?" but "How can I remember and serve Krishna more today?"
How to Observe the Ekadashi Fast
Avoid all grains and beans for the whole day, eat lightly or fast as your health allows, spend more time chanting and hearing about Krishna, and break the fast the next day within the parana time.
- The day before, eat simply and note the parana time for your location.
- On Ekadashi, do not eat any grains, dals or beans. In Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Adi-lila 15.9, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu asks His mother not to eat grains on Ekadashi.
- As your health and strength allow, take nothing, only water, fruits, or simple grain-free prasadam. Do not make the fast a show, and do not harm your body.
- Break the fast the next day (Dvadashi) within the parana time. Parana is the proper completion of the vow, not just the next meal.
What to Do on Ekadashi
- After your morning bath, take the vow (sankalpa) to observe the fast before Lord Sri Krishna.
- Chant more of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare.
- Read or hear Bhagavad-gita As It Is, Srimad-Bhagavatam, Sri Caitanya-caritamrita or other books by Srila Prabhupada. The nine processes of devotional service give more ideas.
- Give time to kirtan, temple darshan, serving Vaishnavas, prasadam service or Krishna-katha.
- Keep remembering Krishna through the day and night as far as you can.
What to Eat and What Not to Eat on Ekadashi
On Ekadashi, Vaishnavas avoid all grains and beans and eat simple grain-free food such as fruits, milk products, and dishes made from sabudana, kuttu or singhara.
Foods generally accepted
- Fruits, and roots and tubers your tradition accepts
- Milk and accepted milk products
- Sabudana (sago), kuttu (buckwheat) and singhara (water chestnut) flour, after checking the ingredients
- Rock salt (sendha namak) and the spices accepted in your temple tradition
Foods generally avoided
- Rice, wheat, maize, bajra (millet) and all other grains
- All dals and beans, including chana, rajma and soybean
- Anything made from grains or dals, such as atta, suji (semolina), biscuits and namkeen
- Packaged food with any grain or bean ingredient
Practice varies a little between Vaishnava communities, especially for spices and packaged foods. When unsure, follow the guidance of your spiritual teacher or local Vaishnava temple. The Lord can still be offered His regular bhoga; devotees simply do not eat grain prasadam on Ekadashi.
When to Break the Ekadashi Fast (Parana)
Break the Ekadashi fast on the next day, Dvadashi, within the parana time for your location. The parana date for every 2026 Ekadashi is in the last column of the calendar table above.
The parana window depends on local sunrise and on when Dvadashi ends, so it changes from place to place. For the clock time, check your local Vaishnava calendar or temple.
Ending the fast on time is part of the vow. In Srimad-Bhagavatam 9.4.39–40, Maharaja Ambarisha says that "if one does not observe the breaking of the fast within the time of Dvādaśī, there is a flaw in one's observance of the vow," so he breaks his fast by sipping water while waiting respectfully for his guest. In Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.28.1, Nanda Maharaja fasts on Ekadashi, worships Lord Janardana, and bathes in the Yamuna on Dvadashi.
Who Can Observe the Ekadashi Fast?
Any devotee can observe Ekadashi, according to their health and strength. In Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Adi-lila 15.10, Mother Sachi accepts Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's request and vows not to eat grains on Ekadashi. In the purport, Srila Prabhupada explains that, by smarta custom, only widows used to fast on Ekadashi, and that Mahaprabhu established that women who are not widows should observe it too.
Pregnant women, children, elderly people, and anyone with diabetes or another medical condition should decide on a strict fast only after speaking with their doctor and spiritual guide. Devotion never asks us to harm the body without need.
Why ISKCON and Smarta Ekadashi Dates Can Differ
ISKCON (Vaishnava) and Smarta calendars use different rules to decide the fasting day, so their Ekadashi can fall a day apart, even in the same city.
The Vaishnava rules look at the tithi at sunrise, whether Dashami (the 10th tithi) touches Ekadashi (called dashami-viddha, which Vaishnavas avoid), and whether a Maha-dvadashi applies. A common panchang that shows Ekadashi one day earlier or later is usually following the Smarta rules. This page follows the Vaishnava calendar.
Because the calculation depends on local sunrise, Vaishnava calendars are made for a particular place. The dates on this page are for India; in other countries the fasting day can occasionally be different, so check your local temple's calendar.
Conclusion
Use the 2026 calendar above for fasting dates, and check your local Vaishnava calendar or temple for the parana time, since it changes with location. Above all, as Srila Prabhupada teaches, use Ekadashi to reduce the body's demands and give more time to chanting, hearing about Krishna and serving Him.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are 24 Ekadashi fasting days in 2026 in this calendar, two in every month. 2026 also has a Purushottama (adhika) month, which brings Padmini and Parama Ekadashi in May and June.
No. On Ekadashi, Vaishnavas avoid rice and all other grains, as well as all dals and beans.
Yes, sabudana (sago) is generally accepted. With packaged sabudana or flours, check the label for grains, beans or additives, and follow the practice of your own temple.
No. You can take water, fruits or simple grain-free prasadam, as your health and strength allow. The aim is to remember Krishna and serve Him more, not to harm the body.
No. Parana is always on the day after Ekadashi, but the time window depends on local sunrise and on when Dvadashi ends. That is why this page gives the parana date but not a clock time. Check your local Vaishnava calendar or temple for the time.
Yes. In Sri Caitanya-caritamrita (Adi-lila 15.9-10), Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu asks His mother, Sachi, not to eat grains on Ekadashi, and she accepts the vow.
Ekadashi seva: if you wish, you can support prasadam distribution and temple service at Nandgram Dham on Ekadashi. Giving is voluntary and is never a condition for any spiritual result. Ekadashi seva options
