Kamada Ekadashi 2023: The First of All Ekadashi Rituals This Year

Kamada Ekadashi falls on the ‘ekadashi’ (11th day) of the Shukla Paksha (the waxing phase of moon) during the Hindu lunar month of ‘Chaitra’. It is the first ekadashi observance after the celebrations of the Hindu New Year. Like all other ekadashis observed by Hindus, this ekadashi is also observed to honour Sri Krishna, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. As Kamada Ekadashi falls after the Navratri celebrations it is also commonly known as ‘Chaitra Shukla Ekadashi’. The word ‘kamada’ signifies ‘fulfilment of desires’ and therefore Kamada Ekadashi is believed to be a spiritual observance that fulfils all the worldly desires. This ekadashi is celebrated all across India and especially in particular regions of Southern India.

Kamada Ekadashi 2025 is on April 08 Tuesday

Story of Kamada Ekadashi

Kamada Ekadashi Vrat Katha English

The Ekadashi that falls in the waxing phase of the moon, or the Shukla Paksha of the moon in the Chaitra month is known to be the most auspicious, a period of repentence, a period to seek redemption.

As per the legend in Padma Purana, in the kingdom of Nagapura, lived the King Pundarika along with the nagas, gandharvas, kinnaras, and celestial nymphs. Among them, was a celestial nymph by the name Lalitha, and a gandharva by the name Lalith, who grew in love with time. They rejoiced in a world of their own, with love, passion, beauty and wealth.

Once, when King Pundarika was sporting, Lalith was singing and dancing in praise of the King, when in a moment’s relapse, he slipped and stumbled upon words being overpowered by love in the mere memory of his wife, Lalitha. This infuriated the King who cursed the gandharva into deforming into a fierce demon who ate ‘raw flesh that eats human beings.’ This upset Lalitha who sought repentence and solace from a sage in an impassable, dense forest.

The sage, who was touched by her solicitude, advised her to observe a fast, or Ekadashi Vrat, do ‘destroy sins’ and to gain ‘religious merit.’ Lalitha observed the fast on Ekadashi (the eleventh day) and on Dvadashi (the twelfth day) to help her husband strip off his goblinhood with the blessings of Lord Vishnu. Lalith was cured of his demon form and he received his gandharvahood following her steadfast devotion and faith in the vrat. The couple rejoiced in the religious merit of Kamada.

Rituals during Kamada Ekadashi:

• The day of Kamada Ekadashi starts at sunrise with an early bath. The devotees then make preparations for worshipping Lord Vishnu. On this day, the idol of Lord Krishna is worshipped with sandalwood, flowers, fruits and dhoop. This ritual is meant to invoke the blessings of Lord Krishna.
• The fast of Kamada Ekadashi must be observed with devotion and by following certain rules. The observer of this fast can eat one simple meal that comprises of milk products, fruits, vegetables, nuts and dried fruits. The food should be ‘saatvik’ and purely vegetarian. Even for those not keeping a fast, eating rice, moong dal, wheat and barley is not allowed on the day of Kamada Ekadashi.
• The fast of Kamada Ekadashi begins from the ‘dashami’ of the Chaitra Shukla Paksha. On this tithi the person should take only one meal before sunset. The fasting continues for a period of 24 hours from the sunrise of ekadashi to the sunrise of the following day, Dwadashi. During this period, the person must abstain from eating food and drinking a sip of water. The fast is broken on the next day, after offering food and some ‘dakshina’ to a Brahmin.
• On this day devotees do not sleep during the afternoon as well as night. They chant Vedic mantras and bhajans in praise of Sri Krishna, an avatar of Lord Vishnu. Reading of religious books like ‘Vishnu Sahastranaam’ is considered to be very auspicious. On this occasion special yagyas, discourses and speeches are held in Lord Vishnu temples all over India.
• The observer of the vrat must also listen to the Kamada Ekadashi vrat katha. This katha was formerly narrated by Saint Vasistha to Maharaja Dilip, who was great grandfather of Sri Ram, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu.

According to the Narad Puran, the following rituals must be done:

• The devotees must carefully follow the injunctions of the holy rites of the Shukla Paksha of Asadha. They should observe a fast and install a picture of Lord Vishnu on an arranged pavilion, ornamented with gold and silver, with a yellow cloth silk wound around it.
• Devotees must bathe the picture of the deity with panchamrita and pure water as they chant mantras and recite the hymn ‘Purusa Sukta’.
• The Upacharas begin with Padya and end with Nirajana (ceremonial waving of lights around an object of worship).
• On the morning of Dvadashi, devotees must worship Lord Vishnu, or Sheshashayin (the one who sleeps on the Shesha Naag), with the sixteen Upacharas as mentioned in the Narad Puran. They should pay offerings to Brahmanas as Dakshinas.

Upacharas are customs followed in observing a ritual, and the Narad Puran mentions of sixteen upacharas: avahana (invitation), asana (offering a seat), Padya (water for washing feet), arghya (respectful offering of water with or without grains of rice, durva grass, flowers mixed in it), acamaniya (offering spoonfuls of water for sipping), snana {bath), vastra (cloth), yajnopavita (the sacred thread). anulopana or gandha (sandal paste or some fragrant paste), puspa (decoration with flowers) dhupa (burning of incense), dipa (waving of light), naivedya (offering of eatables, food) tambula (offering betel-leaves, just after dinner or naivedya), dakshina (religious fee or monetary gift), pradakshina (clockwise circumambulation).

Important Timings On Kamada Ekadashi 2025

Significance of Kamada Ekadashi:

Kamada Ekadashi is the first ekadashi observance of the Hindu year, making it the most revered of all the Ekadashi rituals. The greatness of Kamada Ekadashi has been described in several Hindu religious scriptures and puranas like ‘Varaha Purana’. During Mahabharata, Sri Krishna explained the virtues and benefits of Kamada Ekadashi to Pandava King Yudhishtira. The Kamada ekadashi vratam helps a person to regain and improve their virtues. It also protects the devotees and their family members from all the curses inflicted on them. Even the most heinous sins like killing of Brahmin cab ne pardoned if a person keeps the Kamada Ekadashi vrat with full commitment. It is also a popular belief that by observing the Kamada Ekadashi fast with dedication, childless couples are blessed with a male progeny. People observing this sacred fast will also get liberated from the cycle of birth and death and ultimately reach to ‘Vaikunth’ the adobe of Lord Vishnu.

Kamada Ekadashi festival dates between 2020 & 2030

Other Related Festivals