Nirjala Ekadashi
The strictest Ekadashi — kept without even water; Bhima's Ekadashi.
Celebrated everywhere
Dates
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Thursday, 25 June 2026 |
| 2027 | Monday, 14 June 2027 |
| 2028 | Saturday, 3 June 2028 |
| 2029 | Friday, 22 June 2029 |
| 2030 | Wednesday, 12 June 2030 |
| 2031 | Sunday, 1 June 2031 |
Dates are for Mumbai. A tithi that changes close to sunrise or sunset can fall a day earlier or later in another city, so for your own town open the festival in the app.
When it falls
11th day of the waxing moon, in Jyeshtha. Like every lunar festival it lands on a different Gregorian date each year. Muhurtha works the date out from the positions of the Sun and Moon, using the rule for this festival; see how every festival is dated.
The story
Bhima, the strongest of the Pandavas, could not bear to fast on Ekadashi. The sage Vyasa told him that keeping this one waterless Ekadashi in Jyeshtha would earn the merit of all twenty-four, so it is also called Bhimaseni Ekadashi.
How it is kept
Devotees fast without food or water from sunrise to the next sunrise, worship Vishnu, give water pots, fans and fruit in charity, and break the fast the next morning.
Common questions
When is Nirjala Ekadashi in 2027?
In 2027, Nirjala Ekadashi falls on Monday, 14 June 2027 in Mumbai. Dates for other years are in the table above.
How is the date of Nirjala Ekadashi decided?
11th day of the waxing moon, in Jyeshtha. Like every lunar festival it lands on a different Gregorian date each year. Muhurtha works the date out from the positions of the Sun and Moon, using the rule for this festival; see how every festival is dated.
How is Nirjala Ekadashi kept?
Devotees fast without food or water from sunrise to the next sunrise, worship Vishnu, give water pots, fans and fruit in charity, and break the fast the next morning.
Other festivals nearby
Open the Muhurtha app to see Nirjala Ekadashi for your own town, with the exact time its tithi begins and ends. How every festival is dated.
Get Muhurtha for iPhone All festival dates
Muhurtha is free, works offline and has no ads. An Android version is on the way.