Dev Uthana Ekadashi : When Is Vishnu Awakening Day?

Dev Uthana Ekadashi, also known as Devutthana Ekadashi or Prabodhini Ekadashi, is one of the most sacred occasions dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Observed on the Ekadashi tithi of the Shukla Paksha in the Hindu month of Kartik, this festival marks the symbolic awakening of Lord Vishnu from his four-month-long cosmic sleep, known as Yoga Nidra. According to Hindu beliefs, Lord Vishnu enters this divine resting period on Ashadha Shukla Ekadashi and awakens on Kartik Shukla Ekadashi. The occasion also marks the conclusion of Chaturmas, after which auspicious ceremonies such as weddings and housewarming functions traditionally resume. In 2026, Dev Uthana Ekadashi will be observed on Friday, November 20. The Ekadashi tithi begins at 7:15 AM on November 20 and ends at 6:31 AM on November 21. Devotees are advised to observe the fast on November 20, following the sunrise-based tradition.

On this auspicious day, devotees wake up early, take a holy bath and worship Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi. The idols or pictures of the deities are decorated with flowers, sandalwood paste, fruits and lamps. Chanting the mantra 'Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya', reciting the Vishnu Sahasranamam and reading the Ekadashi Vrat Katha are considered auspicious. Tulsi Vivah is another important tradition associated with this festival. Devotees symbolically perform the marriage of the Tulsi plant, considered a manifestation of Goddess Lakshmi, with the Shaligram, representing Lord Vishnu. Fasting may be observed according to one's health, with fruits and milk permitted as alternatives to a complete fast. Charity, food donation and helping the underprivileged are also considered highly meritorious. The festival is celebrated with special devotion at prominent pilgrimage centres such as Pandharpur in Maharashtra, Girnar in Gujarat and Pushkar in Rajasthan. Dev Uthana Ekadashi highlights the importance of devotion, self-discipline, charity and service to society.