Rama Ekadashi 2026: 5 November, Parana Time, Puja Vidhi and Vrat Katha

Rama Ekadashi is the Ekadashi of the Krishna Paksha of Kartik month — in 2026 it falls on Thursday, 5 November. “Rama” is a name of Goddess Lakshmi, and this Ekadashi comes just before Dhanteras and Diwali, so both Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi are worshipped. It is believed that the Rama Ekadashi fast destroys sins and brings prosperity to the home. Below are the date, city-wise Parana time, puja vidhi, mantras, vrat katha and rules of Rama Ekadashi.

Rama Ekadashi 2026: date and Parana time

Detail	Time (2026)
Rama Ekadashi fast	Thursday, 5 November 2026
Ekadashi tithi begins	4 November, about 11:05 AM
Ekadashi tithi ends	5 November, about 10:37 AM
Parana (breaking the fast)	Friday, 6 November — after sunrise
Dwadashi ends	6 November, about 10:30 AM

At sunrise on 4 November it was still Dashami, and at sunrise on 5 November it is Ekadashi — so this time both Smarta and Vaishnava fasts are on 5 November. Hari Vasara does not affect the Parana.

City-wise Parana time (6 November)

City	Parana time (morning)
Delhi	6:36 – 8:47 AM
Mumbai	6:41 – 8:57 AM
Kolkata	5:43 – 7:58 AM
Bengaluru	6:14 – 8:34 AM
Lucknow	6:19 – 8:31 AM
Jaipur	6:39 – 8:52 AM
Dehradun	6:35 – 8:45 AM

For every Ekadashi and Parana time in your city, see When is Ekadashi. Timings may differ by a few minutes.

Significance of Rama Ekadashi

According to the Puranas, Lord Krishna told Yudhishthira the glory of Kartik Krishna Ekadashi. It is called Rama Ekadashi because Lord Vishnu (Keshava) is worshipped along with Rama — Goddess Lakshmi. The fast is said to give fruit like Kamadhenu and Chintamani. Keeping it before Diwali is believed to bring the blessings of Goddess Lakshmi and lasting prosperity to the home.

Rama Ekadashi puja samagri

• An idol or picture of Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi
• Yellow flowers, a lotus (if available), tulsi leaves
• Sandalwood, roli, akshat, a yellow cloth
• A ghee lamp, incense, camphor
• Panchamrit, fruit, sweets and jaggery-chana
• A kalash, Gangajal and mango leaves

Rama Ekadashi puja vidhi — step by step

1. From the evening of Dashami (4 November) eat sattvic food and take no grain at night.
2. On Ekadashi morning bathe, wear clean (preferably yellow) clothes and take the sankalp of the fast before Lord Vishnu.
3. Spread a yellow cloth on a chowki and place Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi. Set up a kalash and sprinkle Gangajal.
4. Bathe the Lord with panchamrit and offer sandalwood, yellow flowers, tulsi leaves and akshat. Offer red or yellow flowers and a lotus to Goddess Lakshmi.
5. Light a ghee lamp, chant the mantra below 108 times and recite the Vishnu Sahasranama or Laxmi Chalisa.
6. Listen to the Rama Ekadashi vrat katha and sing Om Jai Jagdish Hare and Om Jai Laxmi Mata.
7. Keep a fruit fast through the day and sing bhajans at night. On 6 November, during the Parana time, give charity and break the fast.

Rama Ekadashi mantras

ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय॥
Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya — chant this twelve-syllable mantra 108 times.

ॐ श्रीं ह्रीं श्रीं कमले कमलालये प्रसीद प्रसीद। ॐ श्रीं ह्रीं श्रीं महालक्ष्म्यै नमः॥
Om Shreem Hreem Shreem Kamale Kamalalaye Praseed Praseed, Om Shreem Hreem Shreem Mahalakshmyai Namah — recited for the blessings of Goddess Lakshmi before Diwali.

Rama Ekadashi vrat katha

Long ago there was a righteous king named Muchukunda. In his kingdom everyone kept the Ekadashi fast — even animals were not given grain on that day. His daughter Chandrabhaga was married to Shobhan, son of King Chandrasena. Shobhan was physically weak and could not bear hunger.

Once, in the month of Kartik, Shobhan was visiting his in-laws when Rama Ekadashi arrived. Chandrabhaga was worried, because no one in her father’s kingdom ate on Ekadashi. Shobhan said he too would keep the fast and leave the rest to God. He fasted, but weakened by hunger and thirst, he died the next morning.

By the power of the fast Shobhan received a beautiful city named Devapur on Mount Mandarachal and became its king. But the kingdom was not stable, because he had kept the fast out of compulsion, not faith. One day Soma Sharma, a Brahmin from Muchukunda’s kingdom, reached there on pilgrimage and recognised Shobhan. Shobhan told him everything and said that only Chandrabhaga could make the kingdom stable.

Soma Sharma returned and told Chandrabhaga. She went to the ashram of sage Vamadeva, where by the power of his mantra she received a divine body and reached Shobhan. Chandrabhaga had kept the Ekadashi fast since the age of eight. She gave the merit of all those fasts to her husband, the kingdom of Devapur became stable, and the two lived happily.

Lord Krishna said — whoever keeps the Rama Ekadashi fast with devotion and listens to this story is freed of all sins and reaches the abode of Vishnu.

7 rules of Rama Ekadashi

• Do not eat rice or grain on Ekadashi — even those not fasting avoid rice.
• Do not pluck tulsi leaves on Ekadashi; pluck them a day earlier for the puja.
• Eat sattvic food from Dashami night; avoid garlic and onion.
• Do not sleep during the day, and avoid anger and harsh words.
• Keep the home clean — starting Diwali cleaning and lighting lamps from Rama Ekadashi is considered auspicious.
• Break the fast within Dwadashi tithi; give charity before Parana.
• The sick, pregnant women and the elderly may keep a fruit fast.

Rama Ekadashi and Diwali

Rama Ekadashi begins the festive mood of Deepotsav. The next day, 6 November, is Dhanteras, then Choti Diwali on 7 November and Diwali Lakshmi Puja on 8 November. After that, Dev Uthani Ekadashi of Kartik Shukla Paksha falls on 20–21 November.

For all vrat and festival dates, see the Vrat Calendar. Read more on Wikipedia.

Frequently asked questions