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In the rich spiritual tradition of Sanatan Dharma, Ekadashi fast is considered the best of all fasts and destroyer of sins. Out of the total twenty-four Ekadashis that occur throughout the year, the Ekadashi date of Krishna Paksha of Ashwin month is known as ‘Indira Ekadashi’. The importance of this Ekadashi increases manifold because it falls in the middle of the holy fortnight of Pitru Paksha. According to religious beliefs, if any person’s ancestors or forefathers are suffering punishment in Yamalok due to some sinful deeds of their previous births or have suffered degradation, then by fasting and worshiping Indira Ekadashi as per the rituals for them, they get relief from all the troubles and attain Vaikuntha Dham.
This holy festival dedicated to the worship of Lord Shri Hari Vishnu and Mother Mahalakshmi not only destroys poverty, fear and defects from the life of the seeker, but also saves the ancestors of seven generations of the family. In Padma Purana and Mahabharata, Lord Shri Krishna had told Yudhishthir about the glory of this Ekadashi and said that a person observing fast on Indira Ekadashi gets the same virtuous results as Vajpayee Yagya. In the year 2026, this Ekadashi of Ashwin month is coming with an extremely rare and auspicious astronomical coincidence, which has made its effect more fruitful.
According to the subtle calculations of the Vedic calendar, the Ekadashi date of Krishna Paksha of Ashwin month will begin at 02:07 am on 06 October 2026. This holy date will end at 12:34 am on 07 October 2026. Since Suryodayavyapin Udaya Tithi is given supreme recognition in Sanatan Dharma, the main fast of Indira Ekadashi will be observed with full devotion on Tuesday, 06 October 2026.
This year, ‘Sarvartha Siddhi Yoga’ is making this date more special. According to astrology, Sarvartha Siddhi Yoga is such a rare and auspicious yoga in which all the religious rituals, worship and resolutions done are accomplished without any hindrance. On October 06, this divine yoga will start from 06:25 am in the morning and will continue till 10:17 pm. In such a situation, the worship of Lord Vishnu and the offerings made in the name of ancestors within this time period will prove to fulfill every wish of the seeker.
Talking about other important Muhurtas of the day, Brahma Muhurta will be from 04:47 AM to 05:36 AM, which is best for meditation and sadhana. Vijay Muhurta in the afternoon will be from 02:17 to 03:04. Whereas the evening twilight muhurta will be from 06:13 pm to 06:38 pm and Nishita muhurta (midnight puja) will be from 11:55 pm to 12:44 pm.
According to the scriptures, the full results of Ekadashi fast are achieved only when it is observed at the appointed time and on Dwadashi date as per the classical rules. Parana of Indira Ekadashi fast will be concluded on the next day i.e. Wednesday, 07 October 2026. The best and scripture-based time for Parana will be from 06:17 AM to 08:38 AM. The fasting people should break their fast after the end of Harivasar within this time period.
According to the rules of Parana, before breaking the fast, take bath, wear clean clothes and perform the Aarti of Lord Vishnu. After this, donate directly (raw food like flour, pulses, rice, ghee), yellow clothes, seasonal fruits and Dakshina to any Brahmin, saint or needy person as per your capacity. It is clearly mentioned in the scriptures that the donation made after Ekadashi fast becomes eternal. Only after feeding green fodder or jaggery-roti to the mother cow, one should break one’s fast by taking Tulsi Dal and Charanamrit.
On the day of Indira Ekadashi, there is a tradition to wake up before sunrise and take bath in holy rivers or by mixing Ganga water in household water. After this, take water, Akshat and flowers in your hand and take a firm resolve to fast. Spread a yellow cloth on a post in the north-east corner of the house and install the idol or picture of Lord Lakshminarayan. Anoint the Lord with Panchamrit and offer him yellow flowers, yellow sandalwood, basil leaves, seasonal fruits and yellow sweets. Chant the Mahamantra ‘Om Namo Bhagwate Vasudevaya’ at least 108 times.
Being Pitru Paksha, special offerings are made to the ancestors on this day. At noon, face south and mix water, raw milk, barley, Akshat and black sesame seeds in a copper or brass vessel and offer Jalanjali to the ancestors, wearing the sacred thread of Kush. After this, recite the seventh chapter of Shrimadbhagvadgita and dedicate it to your ancestors with the resolution of its virtue. By doing this, Pitra Dosha is calmed down and the ancestors are pleased and bless their descendants with longevity, health, wealth and progeny growth.
According to the legend, in Satyayuga, the pious king Indrasen ruled the city of Mahishmati. He was a great devotee of Lord Vishnu. One day Devarshi Narad came to his royal court and told the king that he had gone to Yamalok, where he saw King Indrasen’s father. His father was suffering terrible hardships in Yamalok due to breaking of Ekadashi fast in his previous birth. The father had sent this message to his son Indrasen through Narad ji that if his son Ashwin observes a fast on Indira Ekadashi of Krishna Paksha and donates his virtue to him, then he will be freed from the bondages of Yamalok.
As told by Devarshi Narad, King Indrasen along with his subjects, ministers and family kept a strict fast on Indira Ekadashi of Ashwin month, worshiped Lord Shaligram methodically and by donating to the Brahmins, dedicated the entire virtue of the fast to his heavenly father. Due to the effect of this fast, flowers rained from the sky and the king’s father went straight to Vaikuntha Dham riding on Garuda. Since then, it has been believed that fasting on Indira Ekadashi is the most infallible and powerful means of attaining salvation for the ancestors.