Vijaya Ekadashi

Vijaya Ekadashi sits in the Krishna paksha of Phalguna, close to the end of the lunar year in the traditional reckoning. Its presiding deity is Vishnu in his form as Rama, and the name means victory. The day is a favourite among people who feel they face a large undertaking, and the tradition holds it up as an Ekadashi to remember before starting something difficult.

The Skanda Purana connects it to the Ramayana. When Rama reached the shore with his army and found the sea blocking the way to Lanka, the sage Vakadalbhya advised him to keep this vrata. After the observance, Varuna, lord of the waters, is said to have appeared and helped, and the bridge known as Rama Setu was built. Retellings differ on details, such as the exact role of the sage and the sea god, so families usually stress the lesson that preparation and discipline come before a crossing.

Devotees commonly worship Vishnu or Rama with tulsi and a lamp, avoid grains and beans, and read Ramayana passages or chant Rama nama through the day. In some households an earthen pot filled with water and covered with a cloth is set up for the ritual, a practice that varies by region. The fast is broken on the dvadashi morning. Because the weather begins to warm around this season, people should stay hydrated unless they are following a no-water fast, and anyone with a health condition should seek a doctor's guidance.