Ekadashi May 2026 — 13 May and 27 May
ఏకాదశి May 2026
Apara Ekadashi falls on Wednesday, 13 May 2026, and Padmini Ekadashi falls on Wednesday, 27 May 2026. Ekadashi is the eleventh tithi of each fortnight, kept as a fast for Vishnu and broken the next morning within the parana window. Two fall in most months — one in the waxing fortnight, one in the waning.
| Date | Name | Telugu | Masa & Paksha | Fast until |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 May 2026Wednesday | Apara Ekadashi | అపర ఏకాదశి | Vaishakha Krishna | Wednesday sunrise, parana next morning |
| 27 May 2026Wednesday | Padmini Ekadashi | పద్మిని ఏకాదశి | Adhika Jyeshtha Shukla | Wednesday sunrise, parana next morning |
Computed for Hyderabad (17.385°N, 78.486°E) with Lahiri ayanamsa. For your own city use Today's Panchangam, which is location-aware.
What these days are for
Apara Ekadashi — Wednesday, 13 May 2026
Apara means boundless. Kept for release from the burden of past wrongdoing.
Padmini Ekadashi — Wednesday, 27 May 2026
The Shukla Ekadashi of the extra month, which returns only once in about three years. Kept as a night-long vigil.
Frequently asked
When is Ekadashi in May 2026?
Why does May 2026 fall in an adhika month?
Where do these Ekadashi dates come from?
Ekadashi Vrat — Complete Guide
Ekadashi falls on the 11th lunar day (tithi) of each fortnight in the Hindu lunisolar calendar — two per lunar month, one in Shukla Paksha after Amavasya and one in Krishna Paksha after Purnima. A year of twelve lunar months therefore carries 24 of them; a year carrying an adhika masa (the extra lunar month inserted roughly every third year) carries 26, and the two extra ones are Padmini and Parama. Ekadashi is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, and observing it is said to grant moksha (liberation), erase past sins (papa-kshaya), and bring prosperity. The practice is universal across all Vaishnava traditions and is widely observed across South Asia.
Standard Vrat Vidhi (Fasting Procedure)
- Sankalpa (resolve) at sunrise on Dashami evening or Ekadashi morning: "I shall observe this Ekadashi vrat for Lord Vishnu's grace."
- Pure foods only from Dashami sunset until Dwadashi parana. Avoid grains (rice, wheat, pulses) — they're absolute restrictions on Ekadashi.
- Allowed foods (phalahar): fruits, milk, yogurt, nuts, sabudana (tapioca), singhada flour (water-chestnut), sweet potato, rock salt (sendha namak only — no regular salt).
- Worship: chant Vishnu Sahasranama or "Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya" — 108 or 1008 times. Offer Tulsi leaves at Vishnu's feet.
- Parana (fast-breaking) next morning on Dwadashi, after sunrise but within Hari Vasara end. Eating outside Hari Vasara is considered as breaking vrat improperly.
The Ekadashi of Each Lunar Month
| Amanta month (approx.) | Shukla Ekadashi | Krishna Ekadashi |
|---|---|---|
| Chaitra (Mar-Apr) | Kamada | Varuthini |
| Vaishakha (Apr-May) | Mohini | Apara |
| Jyeshtha (May-Jun) | Nirjala | Yogini |
| Ashadha (Jun-Jul) | Devshayani | Kamika |
| Shravana (Jul-Aug) | Shravana Putrada | Aja |
| Bhadrapada (Aug-Sep) | Parivartini | Indira |
| Ashwina (Sep-Oct) | Papankusha | Rama |
| Kartika (Oct-Nov) | Devuthani | Utpanna |
| Margashirsha (Nov-Dec) | Mokshada | Saphala |
| Pausha (Dec-Jan) | Pausha Putrada | Shattila |
| Magha (Jan-Feb) | Jaya | Vijaya |
| Phalguna (Feb-Mar) | Amalaki | Papmochani |
| Adhika masa (when one falls) | Padmini | Parama |
Nirjala, in Jyeshtha Shukla, is the strictest. Devshayani opens Chaturmas and Devuthani closes it, after which weddings resume. Mokshada is also Gita Jayanti.
More on the practice
Can I drink water on Ekadashi?
Most Ekadashis allow water + fluids — only Nirjala Ekadashi (Jyeshtha Shukla) forbids even water. Pregnant women, children, elderly, and ill people are exempt from strict water restriction. Honey or fruit juice can substitute if plain water is medically problematic.
What's the parana timing rule?
Parana (fast-breaking meal) should be done after sunrise on Dwadashi but before the end of Hari Vasara (the first quarter of Dwadashi tithi). If Dwadashi ends before sunrise, parana is done as soon as Dwadashi tithi technically prevails at sunrise. Specific timing is shown on each Ekadashi page.
Are all of them mandatory?
No — many devotees observe only the Shukla Ekadashis (one per lunar month), or specific powerful ones like Nirjala (which is said to equal all 24 combined) + Vaikuntha + Mokshada. Beginners often start with Devshayani + Devuthani (the bookends of Chaturmas). Consistency matters more than completeness.
What's Hari Vasara?
Hari Vasara is the first quarter (1/4) of Dwadashi tithi — the period when Lord Vishnu is said to be especially active. Eating during Hari Vasara breaks the vrat's spiritual benefit even if technically Dwadashi has started. Always wait until Hari Vasara ends if it falls early after sunrise.
→ See every Ekadashi date for the year · → Ekadashi term explained