Dev Uthani Ekadashi, also called Devutthana, Prabodhini or Kartiki Ekadashi, is one of the most important Ekadashis of the Hindu year. According to tradition, Lord Vishnu goes into yoga nidra (divine sleep) on Devshayani Ekadashi in the month of Ashadha and awakens on this day. The four months in between are known as Chaturmas, a period of restraint and spiritual practice.
Dev Uthani Ekadashi 2026 Date
Dev Uthani Ekadashi 2026 is on Friday, 20 November, after Diwali on 8 November and before Kartik Purnima on 24 November. In Maharashtra it is known as Kartiki Ekadashi and is celebrated with the pilgrimage to Pandharpur. Check a local panchang for the exact tithi and the parana (fast-breaking) time on 21 November.
Why It Matters: The End of Chaturmas
Traditionally, many families avoid starting weddings and other major new ventures during Chaturmas. With the awakening of Vishnu, the auspicious season is considered open again, which is why the wedding season is closely associated with Dev Uthani Ekadashi. Individual wedding dates still depend on the panchang and family guidance.
Dev Uthani Ekadashi Vrat: Simple Guidelines
- Wake early, bathe and take a sankalp to observe the vrat with a calm mind.
- Avoid grains, rice and beans. Many devotees take fruit, milk, nuts and sabudana (phalahar).
- Worship Lord Vishnu with tulsi leaves, flowers, a diya and incense.
- Read or listen to the Vishnu Sahasranama or the Ekadashi katha.
- In the evening, light diyas and perform aarti. In many homes the family wakes Vishnu with a traditional chant and the sound of bells and conch.
- Break the fast the next day after sunrise, within the parana window.
Note :Health first: if you are pregnant, elderly, diabetic or have any medical condition, speak to your doctor before fasting. A lighter vrat with fruit and water is perfectly acceptable in most traditions.
What Is Tulsi Vivah?
Tulsi Vivah is the symbolic marriage of the Tulsi plant, regarded as a form of Goddess Lakshmi (and, in some traditions, Vrinda), to Lord Vishnu in the form of Shaligram or Krishna. Families decorate the Tulsi plant like a bride, set up a mandap, and perform the wedding rituals with music and sweets. It is observed on the Dwadashi after Ekadashi or on any day up to Kartik Purnima, depending on the family tradition.
How to Perform Tulsi Vivah at Home
Clean the Tulsi plant area and decorate it with a red chunri, bangles, flowers and a small mandap of sugarcane stalks.
Place a Shaligram stone or a Krishna idol next to the Tulsi plant.
Light a diya, offer roli, rice, flowers and sweets, and recite the wedding mantras or sing devotional songs.
Perform the symbolic kanyadaan and circle the Tulsi and Shaligram together.
Distribute prasad among family and neighbours.
Spiritual Reflection
The awakening of Vishnu can be read as an invitation to wake up our own awareness. After months of restraint, the day encourages renewed purpose, gratitude and care for the environment, symbolised by the Tulsi plant. For personalised guidance on rituals, Vastu for the Tulsi in your home or a family puja, you can book an appointment with Tantrguru Shree Ganesh Dubey at Agnitra Foundation.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Dev Uthani Ekadashi in 2026?
Dev Uthani Ekadashi 2026 is on Friday, 20 November. The fast is traditionally broken the next morning after sunrise, within the parana timing given in the local panchang.
Why is Dev Uthani Ekadashi important?
It marks the day Lord Vishnu is believed to wake from his four-month sleep, ending Chaturmas. It is also seen as the start of the auspicious wedding season.
What is Tulsi Vivah?
Tulsi Vivah is the ceremonial marriage of the Tulsi plant with Lord Vishnu in the form of Shaligram or Krishna. Families perform it between Dev Uthani Ekadashi and Kartik Purnima.
What can you eat on Dev Uthani Ekadashi?
Most devotees avoid grains, rice and beans and eat fruit, milk, nuts, sabudana and other phalahar items. Customs vary, and people with medical conditions should consult a doctor.
What is Dev Uthani Ekadashi called in Maharashtra?
In Maharashtra it is called Kartiki Ekadashi, and lakhs of Warkari devotees visit Pandharpur on this day to worship Lord Vitthal.
Connect with Agnitra Foundation
Agnitra Foundation, The Cosmic Light House, is a spiritual and holistic science-based NGO founded by Tantrguru Shree Ganesh Dubey, who has more than 35 years of experience in Satvik Tantra, paranormal healing and holistic sciences. The foundation has trained over 12,000 students through courses, counselling and workshops.
Make an appointment: https://www.agnitrafoundation.org/register-now/ | Call: +91 98670 71108 (open daily, 10 am to 6 pm)
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