Ashadhi Ekadashi 2027: Date, Fasting Rules and Pandharpur Yatra

Ashadhi Ekadashi, also called Devshayani Ekadashi, is on Wednesday, 14 July 2027. It is the biggest day of the year at Pandharpur. The Varkari palkhis that leave Dehu and Alandi at the end of June reach the town for this Ekadashi, and the calendar marks the Pandharpur yatra and the start of Chaturmas on the same date.

Ashadhi Ekadashi 2027 at a glance

Why it is called Devshayani

Devshayani means "the day the god goes to sleep". Vishnu is believed to lie down on the serpent Shesha in the ocean on this Ekadashi and wake up four months later on Prabodhini (Kartiki) Ekadashi. These four months are Chaturmas, when many people take a vow to give up a food, keep a daily reading, or avoid certain activities. Marriages are not held in this period; the calendar has no vivah muhurat between 12 July and 21 November 2027.

Fasting rules

The Ekadashi fast in Maharashtra is a phalahar fast. Rice, wheat, jowar, bajri and most pulses are left out. Sabudana khichdi, vari (sama rice), peanut amti, ratale (sweet potato), bhagar, fruit, milk and curd are the usual foods. Some people keep a nirjal fast without water, though most keep the phalahar one.

The fast ends on Dwadashi, the next morning, with a normal meal. In 2027 that is Thursday, 15 July. Many families make puran or a sweet for the parana.

At Pandharpur

By tradition the Chief Minister of Maharashtra performs the official mahapuja of Vitthal and Rukmini in the early hours of Ashadhi Ekadashi, along with a Varkari couple chosen from the queue. Lakhs of pilgrims bathe in the Chandrabhaga river and take darshan of the temple's kalas (spire) if they cannot reach the idol. The palkhis stay in Pandharpur until Guru Purnima and then start back.

The palkhi departure dates and the other three Pandharpur waris are in Pandharpur wari 2027.

Related dates

The Vitthal Navratri runs from 13 to 18 July and ends on Guru Purnima. All Ekadashis of the year are in Ekadashi 2027, and the four months of Chaturmas are explained in Chaturmas 2027. See the July 2027 Marathi calendar for daily panchang.