In short
- Date: Friday 4 December 2026.
- Ekadashi tithi (New Delhi): about 9:33 AM on 3 Dec to 10:14 AM on 4 Dec.
- Parana: the morning of Saturday 5 December, within the time your panchang gives.
- Utpanna means "born": this is the day Ekadashi is said to have appeared.
The story of the day
In the Puranic account, Vishnu was resting in a cave when the demon Mura came to attack him. A radiant goddess emerged from Vishnu's body and destroyed the demon. Pleased, Vishnu named her Ekadashi, after the eleventh day of the moon on which she appeared, and declared that anyone who fasts on that day would be dear to him.
Utpanna Ekadashi is the birthday of the Ekadashi vrat itself.
Why people start here
Because the day tells how Ekadashi began, it is the traditional point to take up the fast for the first time. Start with what you can keep every fortnight rather than the hardest version for one day.
- The day beforeA light evening meal, and no grains after it.
- The dayNo grains or beans; fruit and milk, or a stricter fast if your health allows.
- The eveningJapa, kirtan or reading, and an early night.
- ParanaBreak the fast after sunrise the next day, within the Dwadashi window.
Full food rules: Ekadashi vrat rules. The sick, pregnant and elderly should not attempt a hard fast.
In Vrindavan
Margashirsha is the month Krishna names as his own in the Gita, and the Ekadashis of this month are kept with particular care in Braj. Temples hold extra kirtan, and the Gita Jayanti Ekadashi follows two weeks later.
The heart of it
Whatever the festival, the practice he teaches stays the same: the name. See how to start naam jap or keep count with the naam jap counter.
Dates and sources
| Day | Date (2026) |
|---|---|
| Utpanna Ekadashi | Fri 4 December |
| Vivah Panchami and Vihar Panchami | Mon 14 December |
| Mokshada Ekadashi and Gita Jayanti (some panchangs: Sun 20) | Sat 19 December |
Dates are as published by panchang sources for New Delhi. Tithi times shift by city, and traditions differ when a tithi spans two days, so confirm with your local panchang or temple.
Sources consulted: Drik Panchang, India TV Ekadashi calendar 2026.
Things devotees often ask about
Brass Lotus Diya, Set of 2
Two small lotus-shaped brass diyas for the home mandir, for daily aarti or deep daan.
Tulsi Japa Mala, 108 Beads
A plain tulsi mala with 7 mm beads, the size most people find comfortable for daily japa.
Naam Jap Finger Counter
A ring counter worn on the finger, for counting the name on a walk or a commute without a mala.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases; your price does not change. None of this is needed for the practice, and none of it is connected with Maharaj Ji or the ashram. See all items
This is a fan website, not the official site of Shri Hit Radha Keli Kunj. The article summarises what he teaches in public satsang; it does not quote him. If something here is wrong, tell us and it is corrected the same week.
