Astrotattwa

अपरा एकादशी

Apara Ekadashi

In 217 days

Jyeshtha Krishna Ekadashi, a fast believed to remove even grave sins and bring good name.

About Apara Ekadashi

Apara Ekadashi falls on the Ekadashi of Jyeshtha Krishna Paksha. It is a fast believed to remove even grave sins and bring good name.

Like every Ekadashi it is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The fast runs from sunrise on Ekadashi to the Parana, the breaking of the fast, after sunrise the next morning on Dwadashi.

How to celebrate

  1. Eat a light sattvic meal before sunset on Dashami, the day before.

  2. On Ekadashi morning, bathe and take a sankalp, a resolve, to keep the fast.

  3. Worship Lord Vishnu with Tulsi leaves, yellow flowers, a diya and fruit.

  4. Read or listen to the Apara Ekadashi vrat katha and chant Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya.

  5. Stay awake for part of the night in bhajan or prayer if you can.

  6. Break the fast the next day within the Parana time for your city.

Do

  • Fruit, milk, nuts, sabudana, kuttu and singhara flour
  • Rock salt instead of regular salt

Avoid

  • Rice and all grains, beans and lentils
  • Onion, garlic, meat and alcohol

The story

King Mahidhwaja was killed by his jealous brother and became a restless spirit. A sage kept the Apara Ekadashi fast for him and released his soul.

Questions

When is Apara Ekadashi in 2027?

Apara Ekadashi 2027 is on Tuesday, 1 June 2027. Krishna Ekadashi tithi begins at 10:02 AM on Monday 31 May and ends at 9:40 AM on Tuesday 1 June IST.

When should I break the Apara Ekadashi fast?

In New Delhi, Parana is from 5:23 AM on Wednesday 2 June to 8:28 AM IST. Break the fast after sunrise and before Dwadashi ends. Pick your city in the timings card to see local times.

What can I eat during the Apara Ekadashi fast?

Fruit, milk and curd, nuts, sabudana, potatoes, and kuttu or singhara flour cooked with rock salt. Grains, rice, beans and lentils are avoided.

Why is rice avoided on Ekadashi?

Grains are believed to hold the sin that sought refuge on Ekadashi. Rice in particular is avoided by everyone, even those who do not keep the full fast.

Never miss a vrat

Subscribe once and every date appears in your phone calendar, with a reminder the evening before. New years are added automatically.