Ekadashi Fast 2025: Dates, Vrat Norms & Puja Vidhi

Ekadashi एकादशी, in Sanskrit terms, is considered Ekadasi (Eka is 1 and Dasa means 10), the eleventh day of the lunar calendar. It refers to the eleventh day of a fortnight belonging to the lunar month.

There occur two fortnights in the lunar month—the bright and the dark one. So, Ekadashi comes twice in the lunar month when the fasters have to stay abstinent from diet. The Krishna and Vishnu devotees keep this fast—the protectors of the realm.

Ekadashi Fasting & Why It Is Kept?

Ekadashi is one of the most sacred days, and it is devoted to Lord Krishna or Lord Vishnu, the preservers of the universe who offer us the gift of divine spiritualism and soul cleansing.

As per Hindu belief, there are two distinct phases that come in this duration, which is Krishna Paksha अमावस्या and the Shukla Paksha शुक्ल पक्ष. It is considered the most fruitful fast in Hinduism, which brings peace, prosperity, and harmony into the devotee’s life.

There are different notions observed for this fact about why to fast on this day. In religious and spiritual contexts, it is kept to attain salvation; whoever observes this fast tends to achieve Moksha early and stay protected from the malefic effects of the planets on the birth chart.

As per Sadhguru, it’s stated that human physiology goes through a cycle called ‘Mandala’ every 40 to 48 days. While this cycle goes on, there are three days differing from person to person when our body does not need food.

Focusing yourself on eating on those three days is not the ideal thing to do. Because your body is not demanding the food at that time and you are unnecessarily feeding it, it could cause a lot of health issues later on. Therefore, the body must be abstained from eatables during that time.

So, by getting pleased by this act of Ekadashi, Lord Vishny endowed her with the blessing that people would keep Ekadashi fast from that time onwards, with which they would be able to get freed from their sins and soul impurities. They can attain the path of salvation too, observing this व्रत rightly through the heart.

Ekadashi Dates For 2025

If you are also a Krishna devotee and keep Ekadashi व्रत, then take note of all the below-mentioned dates. This would be helpful for you:

Both Krishna Paksha (the waning moon) and Shukla Paksha (the waxing moon) fall on Ekadashi fasting dates in 2025.

The following are some important 2025 Ekadashi dates:

Jaya Ekadashi – February 8, 2025 (Saturday)

• Shukla Paksha of Magha month.

Vijaya Ekadashi – February 23, 2025 (Sunday)

• Krishna Paksha of Magha month.

Apara Ekadashi – May 12, 2025 (Monday)

• Shukla Paksha of Vaishakha month.

Shayana Ekadashi – June 22, 2025 (Sunday)

• Krishna Paksha of Ashadha month.

Vamana Ekadashi – August 11, 2025 (Monday)

• Shukla Paksha of Bhadrapada month.

Padmini Ekadashi – August 25, 2025 (Monday)

• Krishna Paksha of Bhadrapada month.

Kartika Ekadashi – November 10, 2025 (Monday)

• Shukla Paksha of Kartika month.

Rama Ekadashi – November 25, 2025 (Tuesday)

• Krishna Paksha of Kartika month.

Pandava Ekadashi – December 10, 2025 (Thursday)

• Shukla Paksha of Margashirsha month.

Sattila Ekadashi – December 24, 2025 (Thursday)

• Krishna Paksha of Margashirsha month.

Vrat Norms & Puja Vidhi

Before observing the Ekadashi fast, one thing to be noted here is that the person must be intentionally and spiritually prepared to keep this fast so that the fast can be contemplated with the right kind of spiritual practices and साधना.

Now let’s take a look at respectable Vrat Norms and Puja Vidhi, which you should follow exactly.

Vrat Norms:

1. Start preparations on Dashmi (the tenth day itself), the night before Ekadashi.
2. Take the ritual bath to purify your body, then make the surroundings divine with the aromatic fragrance. Set the intentions for fasting with a pure heart.
3. Offer prayers to Lord Krishna and seek his divine blessings.
4. You can choose to keep the desired fast, from the below three types:

Nirjala (waterless) when you cannot even drink water.

Phalahar (Fruit-based) You can have fruits, milk, and certain vegetarian foods but avoid grains, legumes, and processed foods.

Simple, in which the fasters refrain from grains but drink water and eat fruits and vegetables.

1. Wear Tulsi bracelet or Tulsi mala to get the blessings of Lord Krishna.
2. Chant mantras like “विष्णु सहस्रनाम” or “ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय” on this particular day for 1000 times. It is considered highly auspicious to chant these mantras on this divine day, Ekadashi.
3. Avoid any kind of physical exertion on this day and stay in a calm and peaceful environment.
4. The fast should be broken on the next day, which is called Dwadashi. It should be contemplated the following day early in the morning, starting with the light meal.

PUJA VIDHI

• Clear the prayer or altar space and place the Vishnu or Krishna ji idol.
• Light diya and incense sticks before the idol.
• You can offer flowers, tulsi leaves, and fruits to the deity. Tulsi leaves are best offered, most importantly in the Ekadashi worship.
• The fasters also prepare and offer Panchamrit पंचामृत (made from milk, yogurt, ghee, honey, and sugar) for doing during Ikadashi fast.
• Pregnant women, weak and old people must not keep this fast.
• Intake of food grains and non-vegetarian food is completely prohibited.
• The fast should start at sunrise and must end at sunset.
• Fasters must also refrain from violence, deceit, and lying on this day.

Final Notes

Summing up, we can say that the Ekadashi fast is not just a religious ritual but is a great step towards starting life towards purity and spiritual awakening.

Observing the fast correctly will bring you peace of mind, and will also help you cleanse your past sins and soul which is a must for personal growth.