What is Prabodhini Ekadashi?
Prabodhini Ekadashi, also called Dev Uthani Ekadashi, Devutthana Ekadashi or Dev Prabodhini Ekadashi, is the eleventh day (Ekadashi) of the bright half of the month of Kartik. It is one of the twenty-four Ekadashis of the year, and it holds special importance. According to Hindu tradition, on this day the god Vishnu wakes from a sleep of four months. The name Prabodhini means the awakening, and Dev Uthani means the rising of the god.
The day marks the end of Chaturmas, the four-month period that begins on Devshayani Ekadashi in the month of Ashadha, when Vishnu is said to go to sleep. During Chaturmas many families avoid weddings and other major events, and some follow restrictions on diet or travel. With Vishnu awake again, the season of weddings and new beginnings opens.
The date, and why there can be two
Ekadashi follows the lunar calendar, and the fast is kept on the day when the Ekadashi tithi is present at sunrise. Because sunrise differs by city, the date can differ between places.
There is a second reason for a difference. Two traditions follow slightly different rules. The Smarta tradition, followed by many householders, keeps the fast on the first day on which the Ekadashi tithi is present at sunrise. The Vaishnava tradition, followed by devotees of Vishnu and Krishna in many communities, sometimes keeps the fast on the second day, when the Ekadashi tithi is shorter or when the next tithi, Dwadashi, is also present at sunrise. When the two days differ, the Vaishnava date falls a day after the Smarta date. This site has a separate guide for the Vaishnava Prabodhini Ekadashi, and the date is shown for your own city.
If you are unsure which to follow, the usual advice is to follow the practice of your family or your community, or the guidance of your teacher.
Parana, breaking the fast
The fast is broken the next morning, on Dwadashi, in a window called the parana time. Parana should be done after sunrise and before the end of Dwadashi, and traditionally not during the first part of Dwadashi, known as Hari Vasara. The window for your city is shown at the top of this page. It differs between places and between the two traditions, and the fast should be broken within it.
The story
The Puranas tell that Vishnu goes to sleep on the ocean of milk, on the serpent Shesha, in the month of Ashadha, and wakes in Kartik. In one story, the goddess Lakshmi asked him to take some rest, as he never seemed to sleep, and he agreed to sleep for four months of the year.
A second story concerns the demon Shankhasura, who was killed by Vishnu after a long fight. Vishnu was tired afterward and lay down to rest, and the gods prayed for him to wake on Ekadashi so the world could be restored.
The day is also linked with the marriage of Tulsi, the sacred basil plant, to Vishnu in the form of Shaligram.
How the day is observed
The fast. Devotees fast from grains and, in many families, from all food. Some fast with only water, others with fruits, milk and nuts. People with medical conditions, pregnant women, children and the elderly can follow a lighter fast, and a fruit-and-milk fast is common.
Early rising and worship. Many wake before dawn, bathe and worship Vishnu. In some homes the deity is gently woken with songs, bells and conches, and the courtyard is decorated with rangoli of Vishnu feet.
Lamps and prayer. Lamps are lit in the evening. Devotees recite the Vishnu Sahasranama or other prayers, read the story of the day and keep a night vigil with devotional songs.
Tulsi Vivah. From this day, and for the next several days until the full moon, the ceremonial wedding of Tulsi and Vishnu is held in many homes and temples. A small mandap is built around the Tulsi plant, the plant is dressed as a bride and the ceremony follows the pattern of a wedding, with songs, sweets and offerings. The ritual is often seen as the start of the wedding season.
Observing the day away from India
Families abroad can follow the same practices. Fasting on a working day calls for care, and a lighter fast of fruit and milk is widely accepted. Tulsi plants are sold in many Indian grocery stores and online, and a small potted plant is enough for Tulsi Vivah. If you cannot visit a temple, a short prayer at home before a lamp is enough. Check the date and the parana window for your own city on this page, as they differ by location.