Festival Calendar

Nirjala Ekadashi 2023

The waterless fast — hardest and most meritorious of the 24 Ekadashis.

Looking for this year? See when Nirjala Ekadashi 2026 falls
Nirjala Ekadashi 2023 date
Wednesday, 31 May 2023
Tithi: Jyeshtha Shukla Ekadashi
Tithi window: 01:04 PM, Tuesday, 30 May 2023 → 01:43 PM, Wednesday, 31 May 2023

Muhurat & timings

Kashi/IST · astronomically computed
  • Sankalp (sunrise)05:08
  • Sunset18:43
  • Fasting window (tithi)2023-05-30 · 13:04 → 13:43
  • Parana (tithi ends)13:43

Festival days follow the classical attribution rules — udaya (sunrise), pradosha (evening), nishita (midnight), madhyahna or aparahna vyapini as each festival prescribes — computed for Kashi/Varanasi (IST). Regional observance can differ by a day in some years.

Read the Nirjala Ekadashi puja vidhi, vrat rules and katha

Nirjala Ekadashi — Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Nirjala Ekadashi kept without water?

It falls in Jyeshtha, the hottest month, and giving up water when the body most needs it is the offering. Keeping this one waterless fast is said to give the merit of all twenty-four Ekadashis of the year.

Why is it called Bhima Ekadashi?

Because the sage Vyasa told Bhima, who could not fast on every Ekadashi, that he could keep this single day in place of them all — so it also carries his name, Bhimseni or Bhima Ekadashi.

When is the fast broken?

At dawn the next day, within the Dwadashi parana window, after a bath and dana. The parana should not be delayed past the window; the exact time depends on the tithi's end.