Amalaki Ekadashi

Amalaki Ekadashi comes in the Shukla paksha of Phalguna, and it is the only Ekadashi whose main ritual centres on a tree. Amalaki is the Sanskrit name for the Indian gooseberry, called amla in many languages. Tradition holds that Vishnu dwells in the tree, so the presiding deity is Vishnu, residing in the amalaki. The day is also noted as occurring in the run-up to Holi, so in many places it carries a mood of seasonal change.

The Brahmanda Purana is cited for the story that the amalaki tree sprang from a teardrop of Vishnu, and that the fruit holds a kind of amrita. Because of this the tree is treated as sacred, and devotees offer water, turmeric, kumkum and lamps to it. Where there is no tree nearby, people may worship a picture of Vishnu or a small amla sapling, and some temples arrange group worship around the tree.

A typical observance begins with a bath, then circling the amalaki tree, watering its roots and offering a lamp, before the day's fast of fruit and milk or no grains. Amla itself is often eaten in permitted forms, since it is valued in Ayurvedic food culture, but it is acidic and not suited to everyone, so people with ulcers, reflux or on certain medicines should check with a doctor. The fast is ended on the dvadashi morning. In Vrindavan and Varanasi, the day is closely tied to Holi preparations, with local customs of its own.