What is Damanakaropana Dvadasi?
Damanakaropana Dvadasi is the twelfth day of the waxing moon in Caitra, and in 2027 it falls on Sunday, 18 April. The name joins two words: aropana means "to plant", and damanaka is a flowering plant (Artemisia indica) that people in Odisha call dayana.
Significance
Lord Jagannath has two favourite flowers, damanaka and campaka, and it is said that He comes to the Jagannath Vallabha garden in Puri to steal them. During the festival called Damanaka Chori, the Deities of Lord Rama and Lord Krishna are carried in procession to the Jagannath Vallabha Math to collect the leaves. On the fourteenth day of the fortnight the leaves are offered to Lord Jagannath, Lady Subhadra and Lord Balarama.
In the Bhagavad-gita Lord Sri Krishna explains what makes even so simple an offering dear to Him:
If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, a fruit or water, I will accept it.
Bhagavad-gita 9.26
How to observe it
Since this Dvadasi follows Kamada Ekadashi, the day begins with breaking that fast. At Kurukshetra the time to break it on Sunday, 18 April, is between 5:53 AM and 7:43 AM. After that the day is given to offering. Where damanaka grows, devotees plant it and offer its leaves to the Lord. Where it does not, offer a fresh leaf or flower with the love Krishna asks for in Bhagavad-gita 9.26.
Questions
When is Damanakaropana Dvadasi in 2027?
Damanakaropana Dvadasi falls on Sunday, 18 April 2027, in the bright fortnight of Caitra. It is the day after Kamada Ekadashi.
What does Damanakaropana mean?
It means the planting of damanaka. Aropana is Sanskrit for planting, and damanaka is a fragrant flowering plant, Artemisia indica, that Lord Jagannath loves.
Which flower is dear to Lord Jagannath on this day?
The damanaka, known in Odisha as dayana, is the flower of this day. With campaka it is one of Lord Jagannath's two favourite flowers, and in Puri its leaves are gathered and offered to Lord Jagannath, Lady Subhadra and Lord Balarama.
Is there a fast on Damanakaropana Dvadasi?
No. This is the day the Kamada Ekadashi fast is broken, and at Kurukshetra the window is Sunday, 18 April 2027, between 5:53 AM and 7:43 AM IST.
Reviewed by ISKCON Kurukshetra · Updated
Key facts
- Date
- Sunday, 18 April 2027
- Plant offered
- Damanaka (Artemisia indica)
- Festival at Puri
- Damanaka Chori
- Offered to
- Lord Jagannath, Lady Subhadra and Lord Balarama
Seva for this day
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