Kamada Ekadashi 2026
29 Mar, 2026
Sunday
Kamada Ekadashi 2026 on
(29-03-2026)
Muhurtas Details
Tithi Begin Time:
Tithi End Time:
Nakshatra, Muhurat (Start Time):
Nakshatra, Muhurat (End Time):
Ekadashi Parana Time:
Parana Time: 05:42 to 07:09 AM, 30th March 2026
Significance of Kamada Ekadashi
Kamada Ekadashi fast falls on the 11th lunar day of Shukla Paksha of Chaitra month of Sanatan Dharma and between March and April. This is the first Ekadashi after Chaitra Navratri, the new year of Sanatan Dharma. As its name Kamada suggests, it is believed to be a unique occasion when all the wishes of the devotee are fulfilled.
The mythological story about Kamada Ekadashi (कामदा एकादशी) is narrated in Varaha Purana by Lord Krishna to Pandava king Yudhishthira. Sage Vasistha said to King Dilip. Once upon a time, a young Gandharva couple, Lalit and his wife Lalita, both lived in the city of Ratnapura, which was a very rich city decorated with gold and silver, which was ruled by King Pundarika.
Lalit was a famous singer, while Lalita was a famous dancer in the royal court. One day, when Lalit was singing in the royal court, his attention shifted from singing to his wife, who was absent from the court. As a result, he missed a few beats and ended his performance incorrectly.
Karkotaka, a serpent from the Patala region, knowing very well the secret of this situation, complained to the king about it, and said that Lalit considered his wife more important than his master, the king. Angered, King Pundarika cursed Lalit to become a monstrous cannibal, sixty-four miles in height.
His neck was like a mountain, his arms were eight miles long and his mouth was the size of a huge cave. This greatly distressed Lalita, who roamed the forests with her demonic husband engaged in sinful activities. While roaming on Vindhyachal mountain, Lalita's eyes fell on Maharishi Shringi. He expressed his respect towards the sage and appealed to him to give him the solution to his problem. Shringi Muni asked her to observe a fast on Kamada Ekadashi to atone for her husband's sins.
Lalita observed Kamada Ekadashi fast with great devotion and the next day again went to the sage and bowed to Lord Krishna. She requested Krishna to free her husband from the king's curse as a reward for the religious virtue gained by fasting. With the blessings of Krishna, Lalit was restored to his original Gandharva form. After this, he was taken to heaven on a divine flying chariot. That is the great importance of Kamada Ekadashi.
When is Kamada Ekadashi in 2026?
Kamada Ekadashi falls on 29 March, 2026, Sunday.
Frequent Asked Questions(FAQs)
According to the Hindu calendar, Ekadashi occurs twice every month, marking the 11th lunar day of both the “Shukla Paksha” (waxing phase) and the “Krishna Paksha” (waning phase) as per Moon’s transition. It is a sacred day dedicated to Lord Vishnu. On thi
Observing the Ekadashi fast leads to mental purification, the eradication of sins both known and unknown and, ultimately, the attainment of salvation.
One should wake up early in the morning, perform one's cleansings, and wear clean clothes. Thereafter, one should worship Lord Lakshmi Narayan using incense, lamps, flowers, food offerings (Naivedya), and other ritual items. There are three prescribed
One should wake up early in the morning, perform one's cleansings, and wear clean clothes. Thereafter, one should worship Lord Lakshmi Narayan using incense, lamps, flowers, food offerings (Naivedya), and other ritual items. There are three prescribed methods for observing the Ekadashi fast:
1) Sajala: This entails observing a fast throughout the entire day by consuming only water, and breaking the fast by performing Parana on the following day after sunrise.
2) Safala: This involves a fruit-based diet; one may consume a meal consisting of fruits called Phalahar once, after sunset. The fast is then broken on the following day after sunrise during the Parana period.
3)Nirjala: This involves observing a fast without consuming either water or food; this is considered a very rigorous form of fasting. The fast is subsequently broken on the following day after sunrise during the Parana period.
According to the Hindu calendar, Ekadashi occurs twice every month, marking the 11th lunar day of both the “Shukla Paksha” (waxing phase) and the “Krishna Paksha” (waning phase) as per Moon’s transition. It is a sacred day dedicated to Lord Vishnu. On this day, devotees worship Lord Vishnu by observing a fast, either by abstaining completely from food or by surviving solely on a fruit-based diet. It is believed that observing the Ekadashi fast invokes the divine grace of Lord Vishnu.
Nirjala Ekadashi is observed on the Ekadashi of the “Shukla Paksha” (waxing phase of the moon) during the month of “Jyeshtha Month” to seek the grace of Lord Vishnu and to attain the spiritual merits of all the Ekadashi observed throughout the year. It is considered the most rigorous of fasts, requiring one to abstain completely from both food and water. Subsequently, the fast must be broken the following day during the designated “Parana” period. According to mythological legends, Bhimasena observed this fast; hence, it is also known as 'Bhimseni Ekadashi'.
There is two Ekadashi occur in a month. Thus, the total of 24 Ekadashi come across in 12 months.
Nirjala Ekadashi is the most difficult one. This is because, during all other Ekadashi, you can observe the fast by consuming fruits or drinking water; however, on Nirjala Ekadashi, the fast is observed without consuming any food or water.
There is four most like Ekadashi Nirjala Ekadashi, Amalaki Ekadashi, Devshayani Ekadashi, and Dev Uthani Ekadashi.
Saphala Ekadashi is observed for the sake of success.
If you fall asleep during the day while observing a fast, your fast is considered broken. Whether it is an Ekadashi fast or a Navratri fast.
You may observe it for as many years as you wish. However, according to the “Vishnu Purana”, observing the Ekadashi Fast for at least 11 years is considered meritorious.