2018 Ekadashi Calendar
| Date | Day | Name of Ekadashi | Parana (time to break fast) |
| 13 March | Tuesday | Papamochani Ekadashi | 14 March from 6:30am to 10:00am |
| 27 March | Tuesday | Kamada Ekadashi | 28 March from 6:18am to 10:30am |
| 12 April | Thursday | Varuthini Ekadashi and Unmilani Mahadwadasi | 13 April from 5:54am to 7:50am |
| 26 April | Thursday | Mohini Ekadashi | 27 April from 5:43am to 8:25am |
| 11 May | Friday | Apara Ekadashi | 28 May from 5:35am to 10:01am |
| 25 May | Friday | Padmini Ekadashi | 26 May from 5:25am to 9:52am |
| 10 June | Sunday | Parama Ekadashi | 11 June from 5:25am to 7:34am |
| 24 June | Sunday | Nirjala Ekadashi | 25 June from 5:24am to 6:31am |
| 9 July | Monday | Yogini Ekadashi | 10 July from 5:32am to 9:59am |
| 23 July | Monday | Sayana Ekadashi | 24 July from 5:37am to 10:01am |
| 7 August | Tuesday | Kamika Ekadashi | 8 August from 7:25am to 10:27am |
| 22 August | Wednesday | Pavitraropani Ekadashi | 23 August from 5:49am to 10:03am |
| 6 September | Thursday | Annada Ekadashi | 7 September from 5:54am to 7:10am |
| 21 September | Friday | Parsva Ekadashi and Sravana Mahadwadasi | 22 September from 5:58am to 9:59am |
| 5 October | Friday | Indira Ekadashi | 6 October from 6:03am to 9:58am |
| 20 October | Saturday | Pasankusa Ekadashi | 21 October from 6:10am to 9:58am |
| 4 November | Sunday | Rama Ekadashi | 5 November from 6:18am to 10:00am |
| 19 November | Monday | Utthana Ekadashi | 20 November from 6:22am to 10:05am |
| 3 December | Monday | Utpanna Ekadashi | 4 December from 6:37am to 10:11am |
| 18 December | Tuesday | Mokshada Ekadashi | 19 December after 10:30am |
| 1 January | Tuesday | Saphala Ekadashi | 2 January after sunrise and before 10:30am |
| 17 January | Thursday | Putrada Ekadashi | 18 January from 6:56am to 10:30am |
| 31 January | Thursday | Sat-tila Ekadashi | 1 February from 6:53am to 10:32am |
| 16 February | Saturday | Bhaimi Ekadashi and Varaha Dwadasi (nirjala or water only) | 17 February from 6:34am to 10:31am (break fast with caranamrta) |
You can Download an Android app to help you remember these Ekadashi dates and times for breaking fast here.
About the Ekadashi Calendar
Every year there are 24 or 25 Ekadashis. But during Adhika-masa in a lunar leap-month year, when Purusottama-vrata appears, (which is this year, 2018) there are two extra Ekadashis.
The lunar month consists of a bright and a dark fortnight and so Ekadashi falls twice per month. One Ekadashi is when the moon is closest to the earth and another falls when it is farthest from the earth.
Currently some devotees in the West celebrate Gaura Purnima (and other festival days) before the devotees of Mayapura do. This is an unfortunate situation. Until the devotees unite and follow the same Ekadashi day the world over, there can be no real Visva-vaisnava-raja-sabha. Srila Prabhupada made a calendar and therefore to be counted as one of his followers it is implied we will accede to his advice. He has done so many things. He has written so many books. We aspire to follow Prabhupada.
On Srila BV Swami Prabhupada’s Vyasa-puja in 1986, Vipramukhya Svami related the following during his puspanjali offering:
“The question arose: When was Janmastami? Our calendar, put out by Pradyumna, said it was one day in the West and a different day in India. By astrological calculation he had worked out the world in time zones, and those who lived West of a particular time zone would observe it on the following day. Seeing the confusion, you said the calculation was “over-intelligent,” and whatever day it was celebrated on in India, it should be celebrated the same day all over the world.”
ISKCON GBC made the following resolution on Feb 25th, 1988 about following the Mayapur timings for Ekadashi worldwide:
“That the GBC accepts the Yoga Pitha [Mayapura, West Bengal, India] Gaudiya Panjika calendar as authoritative for ISKCON on the instructions of Srila Prabhupada. It is also Srila Prabhupada’s instructions that the Panjika be followed in any time zone of the world according to the same Calendar date as observed in Mayapura.” GBC Resolutions 1988 #53 (http://gbc.iskcon.org/1988/)
How to Follow Ekadashi Vrat
Do you know the reason why waves come and go, and why on special days – from Ekadashi to Purnima and Ekadashi to Amavasya – waves are very high? Even if there is no wind, still, from Ekadashi to the full moon and dark moon, the water increases and there are so many high waves. Why is this? It is due to the moon. Water and waves increase due to the moon. The moon comes nearer on those days, and extracts the water.
Similarly there is some water in our stomachs and bodies. Therefore, if we are not very careful in these five days in every fifteen, the moon will increase our diseases. You can see in hospitals that most people will die within these five days.
We have rasa, or water, within us, and wherever there is liquid, the moon attracts it. Thus, all kinds of diseases increase. However, if one is very careful and follows the ancient Indian (or Vedic) process of Ekadashi vrat, then this can be controlled very easily.
How do we do this? By not drinking water or taking grains on this day. If one is weak, and is taking water or juice but not grains, then you can save yourself. If one is taking any preparation made from grains, it will absorb the water and become saturated with that water. If a stone or wood is put in water, it will not absorb water, whereas if you put blotting paper or cotton in there, it will absorb so much that it will remain fully saturated for the entire day. It will not dry, even in the sun. If you drink water but do not take grains, then like a stone, you will not be affected. However if you take grains, the moon will attract the water, those grains will become saturated with the water, and so many kinds of sickness will come. You may even die; so be careful about this.
Moreover, the most important reason to follow Ekadashi vrat is that Ekadashi is Krsna Himself. Krsna has become Ekadashi. He descends to this world on Ekasasi day, looks after all the people who are observing its vows, and gives special mercy to them. So we must observe Ekadashi vrat.
For your increased spiritual advancement on Ekadashi, if you hear the holy name, chant and remembering Krsna, and hear Srimad-Bhagavatam and Hari katha in the assembly of devotees, you will quickly develop krsna-prema.
Restricted Foods on Ekadashi:
Tomatoes, eggplants, cauliflower, broccoli, bell peppers, carrots, bitter melon, green peas, loki, parmal, toroi, green chili, drumsticks, lady fingers, radish, beets, and banana flowers.
• Peas, chickpeas and all types of beans, including products made from beans like papadams, tofu, and tempeh etc.
• All leafy vegetables, like spinach, salads, cabbages, and leafy herbs like parsley, coriander leaves, celery, herbal tea, and curry leaves.
• Grains, like millet, barley, farina, kinua, bamboo rice, wild rice, jungle rice, samo rice, amaranthseed, pasta,rice,corn,and all types of flour made from grains and beans, like rice flour, chickpea flour, urad dahl flour etc.
• Starches from corn or above mentioned grains, and products made from or mixed with these starches like baking soda, baking powder, so drinks with corn syrup, custard, cake, halava, certain varieties of cream and cottage cheese, certain sweets and candies, and tapioca balls.
• Oils made from grains, like soyabean oil, sunflower oil, corn oil, mustard oil, sesame oil, other types of refined oils and products fried in these oils, like fried nuts, potato chips and other fried snack foods). Honey is also restricted.
Spices Used on Ekadashi:
Black pepper, fresh ginger, pure salt and fresh turmeric, all taken from a new and clean package.
Spices Not Used on Ekadashi:
hing (asofetida), chili, sesame seeds, cumin, fenugreek, mustard, tamarind, fennel, cinnamon, mace, nutmeg, bay leaf, cardamon, cloves, oregano, basil and other leafy spices etc.
Foods that can be taken on all fast days: Fruits (fresh and dried), nuts and oils made from nuts and other pure sources, like olive oil, peanut oil, coconut oil, almond oil, and ghee. Potatoes, potato chips, pumpkin, cucumber, squash, lemon, green papaya, green banana, jackfruit, sweet potato, tapioca root, avocado, olives, coconut. Pure milk products.
Forbidden Foods on Ekadashi and Other Vrats:
Non-veg, fish, eggs, onion, garlic, all carrots, all teas, coffee, supplements with Tulasi, products with gelatin, renet, and any animal fats and substances.
Rules for Parana and How to Break the Ekadashi fast:
One should break the fast during the correct time with that which you have been fasting from. For Example: If you have fasted on Ekadashi without taking water then you should break the fast with water or caranamrita. If you have observed Ekadashi by eating fruit and roots, then you should break fast on the next day by taking grains within the specified time of parana.
Restricted Foods during Caturmasya:
Tomatoes, eggplants, all beans, soya, loki, parmal, urad dahl, papadams, mustard, sesame and honey.
Particular foods that are restricted during each of the four months of Cāturmāsya:
First month: No leafy vegetables, such as spinach, salads of all types, cabbages of all types, kale, leafy herbs like coriander, mint, parsley, curry and powdered leafy herbs and teas • Second month: No yoghurt. • Third month: No milk. • Fourth month: No oil except peanut oil, coconut oil, olive oil and ghee. Only fruits and roots.
Eclipse:
• During lunar or solar eclipse, the following should be avoided: cooking, drinking, eating, sleeping, using the toilet (as much as possible).
• Spend time in chanting Harinama (kirtan or japa) or hearing Hari katha.