fasts and vrats
What is Rama Ekadashi and how is it observed in the month of Kartik?
What the tradition says
Rama Ekadashi falls on the eleventh day of the dark half of Kartik, the month that runs roughly from October to November. It comes just before Diwali. The tradition holds that observing this fast with devotion brings spiritual benefit equal to performing an Ashwamedha yajna, a great ritual sacrifice described in the ancient texts. Kartik itself is seen as the holiest month for worship of Vishnu, and Rama Ekadashi is one of four especially sacred Ekadashi days within it. The story and significance of Rama Ekadashi are found in the Brahma Vaivarta Purana.
How it is observed
People who observe Rama Ekadashi fast from food and water, or in some cases eat only light, simple food like fruit or milk products. The fast begins the evening before and ends the next morning after sunrise. Many spend the night in worship, staying awake with bhajans, devotional songs sung in praise of Vishnu and Rama. Some visit temples, while others worship at home with family. The night vigil, called jagarana, is an important part of the observance. The fast is broken the next morning with a simple meal, often after a ritual bath.
In practice today
Rama Ekadashi is widely observed across India and in Hindu communities around the world. Many people keep the fast as a spiritual practice and a way to mark the sacred month of Kartik. For those living far from temples, the observance often happens at home with family, or with local Hindu groups. Some people observe it strictly, while others adapt it to their circumstances. Because it falls so close to Diwali, it is often part of the season of heightened worship and celebration that leads into the festival of lights.