Nirjala Ekadashi is considered the most demanding of all Ekadashis observed through the Hindu calendar year. Falling on the Shukla Paksha Ekadashi of the Jyeshtha month, this fast requires devotees to go entirely without food and water, making it a true test of devotion. This year, the occasion lands on Thursday, June 25, 2026, a combination regarded as especially auspicious because both Thursday and Ekadashi are dedicated to Lord Vishnu. According to religious belief, observing this single fast earns merit equivalent to fasting on every Ekadashi throughout the year.
Tithi Timings and Parana Schedule
According to the Panchang, the Ekadashi tithi of Jyeshtha Shukla Paksha will begin on June 24 at 6:12 PM and conclude on June 25 at 8:09 PM. Based on the Udayatithi convention, the fast is to be observed on June 25, 2026. The Parana, which is the ritual breaking of the fast, will take place on June 26. The auspicious window for Parana falls between 6:03 AM and 8:42 AM. Completing the Parana within this timeframe is considered essential for the fast to be fully fruitful.
Complete Puja Samagri List
For a proper and complete Nirjala Ekadashi puja, all the required materials should be arranged well in advance. Here is the full list:
- An idol or photograph of Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi
- Yellow-colored clothes
- Yellow flowers, sandalwood, Tulsi leaves, Mauli (Kalava) and Akshat
- Incense sticks, a lamp, camphor and ghee
- Panchamrit, prepared by mixing milk, curd, ghee, honey and sugar
- Panchmeva and sweets
- Seasonal fruits, banana and coconut
- Gangajal
- A copy of the Vishnu Sahasranama
- Suhag items for Goddess Lakshmi, including bindi, bangles, sindoor, clothes, kajal and alta
Items to Donate on Nirjala Ekadashi
Charity carries particular significance on Nirjala Ekadashi, especially during the peak of the Jyeshtha summer heat. Donating the following items to those in need is considered highly meritorious on this day:
- A water-filled kalash or earthen pot
- Clothes
- Fruits
- Money
- An umbrella
- Sharbat (sweet chilled drink)
- Muskmelon and mango
- A hand fan
- Sattu and jaggery
The Tulsi Rule Every Devotee Must Follow
On Ekadashi, it is strictly forbidden to offer water to the Tulsi plant. The belief is that Tulsi Mata herself observes the Ekadashi fast for Lord Vishnu, and pouring water on her plant on this day would break that fast. Plucking Tulsi leaves on Ekadashi is equally prohibited. Since Vishnu's puja and the bhog offered to him are both considered incomplete without Tulsi, devotees must pluck the required Tulsi leaves a day in advance, on June 24, and keep them ready for use. Skipping this preparation step can leave the puja incomplete.
