July 5, 2025: Devshayani Ekadashi 2025, observed on the 11th day (Ekadashi) of the Shukla Paksha in the month of Ashadha, is one of the most significant Ekadashi fasts in the Hindu calendar. In 2025, it falls on Saturday, July 6. This day marks the beginning of Chaturmas, the four holy months during which Lord Vishnu is believed to go into Yogic sleep (Yog Nidra). Devotees worship Lord Vishnu and observe a fast to seek divine blessings.
Why Is Devshayani Ekadashi Important?
According to Hindu scriptures, from Devshayani Ekadashi until Prabodhini Ekadashi (in Kartik month), Lord Vishnu rests in the cosmic ocean, and all auspicious activities such as weddings and housewarmings are paused. Fasting and worship on this day are believed to cleanse sins and bring spiritual merit.
What to Eat During the Fast
Only satvik (pure and wholesome) and fruit-based meals are allowed. Recommended foods include:
- Fresh fruits like bananas, papayas, apples, pomegranates, grapes
- Boiled potatoes, sweet potatoes, and sago (sabudana) with rock salt (sendha namak)
- Flour alternatives like buckwheat (kuttu), water chestnut (singhada), or amaranth (rajgira) to prepare pooris, pakoras, or halwa
- Milk, curd, buttermilk, ghee, and natural sweeteners like rock sugar or honey
- Popular vrat dishes include sabudana khichdi, fruit kheer, or light potato curry
Drinking tulsi (holy basil)-infused water is also considered highly auspicious.
What Not to Eat
There are strict dietary restrictions on this day:
- Rice is strictly prohibited, as per Hindu beliefs
- Avoid all grains and pulses, including wheat, maida, lentils, and beans
- Tamsik foods like onions, garlic, eggs, meat, fish, and alcohol are forbidden
- Packaged snacks, biscuits, namkeen, chocolates, or any products with refined oil or regular salt are not allowed
- Use only rock salt (sendha namak) instead of table salt
- Avoid fried, spicy, or oily foods that disturb physical and mental purity
How to Break the Fast (Paran Procedure)
The fast is broken the next day, on Dwadashi Tithi, i.e., Sunday, July 7, after sunrise but before noon. Here’s the proper way to perform the Paran:
- Take a bath and wear clean, preferably yellow, clothes
- Offer puja to Lord Vishnu, using tulsi leaves, yellow flowers, incense, and a lamp
- Chant “Om Vishnave Namah” or “Om Narayanaya Namah” during the puja
- Offer satvik food, fruits, or sweets as naivedya
- Donate to a Brahmin – grains, clothes, or fruits
- Break the fast with light satvik food, avoiding rice and tamsik items even on Dwadashi
Spiritual Takeaway
Devshayani Ekadashi is not just a fast but a sacred spiritual observance that brings peace, discipline, and devotion into life. Observing the vrat with the proper rules and intentions is said to invite divine blessings from Lord Vishnu and initiate a period of inner reflection during the Chaturmas.