Utthana Ekadashi
Disappearance Day of Srila Gaura Kisora Dasa Babaji · First day of Bhisma Pancaka
Fasting day
From grains and beans, from sunrise
Break the fast ·
6:53 – 10:23 AM
Break the fast after sunrise and before a third of the day has passed.
What is Utthana Ekadashi?
In the month of Kartika, on the eleventh day of the waxing moon, devotees keep Utthana Ekadashi. It is also known as Haribodhini, Prabodhini and Devotthani Ekadashi, and many people call it Dev Uthani Ekadashi. In 2026 the fast falls on Saturday, 21 November.
Significance
In the Skanda Purana, Lord Brahma describes the glories of this Ekadashi to his son Narada Muni and calls it more purifying than bathing at places of pilgrimage. The special vows of Chaturmasya also end on this day. The next day is the festival of Utthana-dvadasi, which Lord Caitanya celebrated with His devotees:
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His devotees participated in all the festivals, including Rāsa-yātrā, Dīpāvalī and Utthāna-dvādaśī.
Caitanya-caritamrita, Madhya 15.36
This year the Ekadashi coincides with the disappearance day of Srila Gaura Kisora Dasa Babaji. It is also the first of the five days of Bhisma Pancaka, which run to the full moon.
How to observe it
Devotees take no grains or beans. Many stay awake through the night singing the Lord's glories, a practice the Skanda Purana especially praises. The time saved from cooking and eating is given to chanting the holy names and hearing about Krishna. At Kurukshetra, break the fast on Sunday, 22 November, between 6:53 AM and 10:23 AM.
This holy day falls in Kartik, the month of Lord Damodara, when devotees offer Him a lamp each evening and sing Damodarashtakam. Read about Kartik (Damodara) Month, and offer your own lamp from wherever you are through our Kartik Deep Daan Seva.
Questions
When is Dev Uthani (Utthana) Ekadashi in 2026?
Utthana Ekadashi is on Saturday, 21 November 2026. The same day is the disappearance day of Srila Gaura Kisora Dasa Babaji and the first day of Bhisma Pancaka.
What time should I break the Utthana Ekadashi fast in Kurukshetra?
Break your fast on Sunday, 22 November 2026, between 6:53 AM and 10:23 AM IST. The window opens at sunrise and closes when one third of the day has passed.
What is Utthana Ekadashi also called?
Its other names are Haribodhini, Prabodhini and Devotthani Ekadashi. It is the second Ekadashi of the month of Kartika.
What should I not eat on Utthana Ekadashi?
Avoid all grains and beans. Srila Prabhupada asked his followers to keep this rule on every Ekadashi.
Reviewed by ISKCON Kurukshetra · Updated
Key facts
- Fasting day
- Break fast
- · 6:53–10:23 AM
- Fast from
- Grains and beans
- Also known as
- Haribodhini, Prabodhini and Devotthani Ekadashi
Seva for this day
Feed devotees and visitors on this holy day, or begin the Bhagavad-gita course with us.