| Date | Chaitra Shukla Ekadashi (March 29, 2026) |
| Duration | One-day fasting event |
| Observance | National and Regional |
| Celebrated in | Nepal, India and Hindu communities worldwide |
| Observing Communities | Hindus, especially Vaishnavas and ISKCON devotees |
| Type of Event | Religious |
| Purpose of Event | To observe the desire-fulfilling Ekadashi fast dedicated to Lord Vishnu, believed to grant righteous wishes and cleanse accumulated sins. |
| Holiday Status | No (Religious observance, not a public holiday) |
| First Observed in | Ancient period (Referenced in Varaha Purana, pre-1000 BCE) |
Quick Fact: Kamada Ekadashi, meaning "desire-fulfilling Ekadashi," is the first Ekadashi of the Hindu New Year. According to the Varaha Purana, the Apsara Lalita observed this Ekadashi to free her beloved Gandharva Lalit from a king's curse, and Lord Vishnu granted her prayers.
Kamada Ekadashi Vrata is observed on the 11th lunar day (Ekadashi) of the bright fortnight (Shukla Paksha) in the month of Chaitra. As the first Ekadashi of the Hindu New Year, it holds special significance and is believed to fulfill righteous desires and cleanse devotees of accumulated sins.
According to the Varaha Purana, Kamada Ekadashi's story involves the Apsara Lalita and Gandharva Lalit who served in King Pundarika's court. When Lalit's thoughts wandered to his beloved during a performance, the king cursed him to become a demon. Following a sage's advice, Lalita observed the rigorous fast of Kamada Ekadashi. After successful completion, Lord Vishnu granted her prayers and restored Lalit to his celestial form, establishing the vrat's power to fulfill desires and remove curses.
This vrata is mainly observed to:
Fulfill righteous desires and aspirations through devotion to Lord Vishnu.
Destroy accumulated sins and karmic impurities from past lives.
Inaugurate the Hindu New Year with spiritual purification and divine grace.
Seek celestial blessings and restore divine favor in one's life.
This vrata is observed through strict religious discipline:
Strict fasting from sunrise to the next morning, avoiding grains, rice and pulses.
Devotees consume only fruits, nuts and milk or practice nirjala (waterless) fast.
Avoiding daytime sleep on Ekadashi and Dwadashi to preserve spiritual merit.
Temple visits for meditation on Lord Vishnu and receiving blessings.
Chanting of Ekadashi Mahatmya and Vishnu mantras throughout the fasting period.
This vrata is important for several reasons:
As the first Ekadashi of the Hindu calendar, it sets the spiritual tone for the entire year.
It removes sin barriers and grants blessings for fulfilling righteous wishes.
It promotes spiritual ascension and progress on the path of dharma and liberation.
It prepares the heart and mind for the upcoming Chaitra Navratri celebrations.
It is universally beneficial for all sincere devotees regardless of background.
Kamada Ekadashi Vrata is a powerful spiritual observance that marks the beginning of the Hindu New Year with purification and divine grace. By observing this fast with sincerity and devotion, devotees seek to cleanse their past sins and invite blessings for the fulfillment of righteous desires in the year ahead.