In short
- Vaikuntha Ekadashi 2026
- Sunday, 20 December 2026
- Countdown
- 44 days to goCounted from Fri, 6 Nov
- Tithi
- Margashirsha Shukla EkadashiMargasira Shukla Ekadashi (amanta)
- Vaikuntha Ekadashi 2028
- Saturday, 8 January 2028
- Fast
- No grains; many keep a full fast
- Observed for
- Moksha and Vishnu’s grace
- Parane
- Mon, 21 Dec · After sunrise (06:37 AM)
When is Vaikuntha Ekadashi 2026? Vaikuntha Ekadashi 2026 is on Sunday, 20 December 2026. It falls on Margasira Shukla Ekadashi (Margashirsha Shukla Ekadashi in the North Indian count); in Bengaluru the tithi runs from Sat, 19 Dec, 10:10 PM to Sun, 20 Dec, 08:15 PM IST. Parane — ending the fast: Mon, 21 Dec, after 06:37 AM. It is also called Vaikunta Ekadashi, Mukkoti Ekadashi and Vaikunta Ekadasi (ವೈಕುಂಠ ಏಕಾದಶಿ, ముక్కోటి ఏకాదశి).
What is it? The Ekadashi of Dhanurmasa, when Vishnu temples open the Vaikuntha gate.
Why do families keep it? It is said the gates of Vaikuntha open on this day; walking through the temple’s northern door is a prayer for moksha.
What happens on the day? A fast, darshan through the Vaikuntha dwara in the early hours, Vishnu sahasranama, and a night vigil.
When to observe Vaikuntha Ekadashi in 2026
| Ekadashi tithi begins | Sat, 19 Dec, 10:10 PM |
|---|---|
| Ekadashi tithi ends | Sun, 20 Dec, 08:15 PM |
| Brahma Muhurta | 04:55 AM – 05:46 AM |
| Sunrise | 06:36 AM |
| Parane — ending the fast | Mon, 21 Dec, after 06:37 AM |
How the days unfold
- Sun, 20 Dec
Vaikuntha Ekadashi · Sunrise 06:36 AM
Fast, Vaikuntha dwara darshan at dawn, and jagarane in the night.
- Mon, 21 Dec
Parane · After sunrise (06:37 AM)
The fast ends on Dwadashi morning.
What Vaikuntha Ekadashi means
The northern gate
Temples open the Vaikuntha dwara only for this festival. Tirumala keeps it open for ten days; Bengaluru’s Vaikuntha temples see queues from midnight.
Mukkoti
Mukkoti means “three crores” — it is said all the devas come to see Vishnu on this day.
Dhanurmasa
The month the Sun is in Dhanu is devoted to Vishnu: dawn pujas and pongal in temples, and Tiruppavai sung in Srivaishnava homes.
Vaikuntha Ekadashi puja at home, step by step
Getting ready
- 1Eat a single sattvic meal on Dashami.
The puja
- 1Bathe before dawn and visit a Vishnu temple for Vaikuntha dwara darshan.
- 2Worship Vishnu at home with tulasi, flowers and a lamp.
- 3Read or listen to Vishnu sahasranama.
- 4Stay awake through the night with bhajane.
Closing the puja
- 1Break the fast on Dwadashi morning, in the parane window above.
What to keep ready for Vaikuntha Ekadashi
Must have
| What | How much | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Tulasi leaves | A handful | Offering to Vishnu |
| Flowers, lamp, agarbatti | As needed | Puja |
| Fruit and milk | As needed | Naivedya and phalahara |
Good to have
| What | How much | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Vishnu sahasranama book | — | Reading |
Keeping the Vaikuntha Ekadashi fast
The day before
- A single meal on Dashami.
On the fasting day
- No rice or grains; fruit and milk for most.
Ending the fast
- On Dwadashi after sunrise, in the parane window.
If a full fast is not right for your health, phalahara (fruit and milk) or a single meal keeps the vrata just as truly. Ask your elders or our pandit.
Good practice, and what to avoid
Please do
- Go to the temple early — queues are long.
- Read Vishnu sahasranama.
Best avoided
- Eat rice or grains during the fast.
Chants for Vaikuntha Ekadashi
Dvadashakshari
ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय
ಕನ್ನಡ ಲಿಪಿಯಲ್ಲಿ
ಓಂ ನಮೋ ಭಗವತೇ ವಾಸುದೇವಾಯ
oṃ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya
What it means: Om, a bow to Bhagavan Vasudeva.
Vaikuntha Ekadashi from region to region
Bengaluru
Vaikuntha dwara darshan at the city’s Venkateshwara and Srinivasa temples from the early hours.
Tirumala and Srirangam
Ten days of Vaikuntha dwara darshan; Srirangam holds its twenty-one-day Adhyayana utsavam.
Have the Vaikuntha Ekadashi puja done for you
Two ways to do it. At a temple: the pandit takes your family’s name and gotra in the sankalpa and sends you the photos and video. At home: a pandit from our panel comes to you with the vidhi, and you sit for the puja yourself.
Where this comes from
- Padma Purana tradition for the Ekadashi of Dhanurmasa.
- Tirumala and Srirangam temple traditions of the Vaikuntha dwara.
How we work out the dates: Stuti Mandir’s own panchanga engine places the Sun and Moon (Lahiri ayanamsa) and checks the tithi against sunrise, sunset and moonrise in Bengaluru, in IST. A printed panchanga may differ by a minute or so. Where your family’s panchanga or your purohita says otherwise, go with them.
Questions devotees ask us
When is Vaikuntha Ekadashi 2026?
Sunday, 20 December 2026. In Bengaluru, Margasira Shukla Ekadashi (amanta; Margashirsha Shukla Ekadashi in the North Indian count) begins Sat, 19 Dec, 10:10 PM and ends Sun, 20 Dec, 08:15 PM IST.
How many days are left until Vaikuntha Ekadashi 2026?
44 days, counted from Friday, 6 November 2026. Vaikuntha Ekadashi 2026 is on Sunday, 20 December 2026.
When is Vaikuntha Ekadashi 2028?
Saturday, 8 January 2028, on Pushya Shukla Ekadashi, worked out for Bengaluru.
What is Vaikuntha Ekadashi also called?
Vaikunta Ekadashi, Mukkoti Ekadashi, Vaikunta Ekadasi and Mokshada Ekadashi; in Indian scripts, ವೈಕುಂಠ ಏಕಾದಶಿ, ముక్కోటి ఏకాదశి.
When do I end the Vaikuntha Ekadashi fast?
On Monday, 21 December 2026, once the sun is up — 06:37 AM in Bengaluru. Follow your family’s custom for what to eat first.
Will Mysuru and Delhi keep Vaikuntha Ekadashi on the same day?
Mostly yes. But the sun rises and sets at different times in different towns, and a habba is kept on the day its tithi is running at the right hour — so timings shift, and once in a while the date does too. Change the town above to see yours.
Why do some temples keep it a day later?
When Ekadashi runs across two days, the Smarta and Vaishnava calendars can pick different days. When that happens this page shows both.