Devutthana Ekadashi 2026: November 20 or 21? Tithi, Parana, Tulsi Vivah and Kartiki Ekadashi

Devutthana Ekadashi is the Ekadashi of the bright fortnight (Shukla Paksha) of Kartik. In tradition, it is the day Lord Vishnu wakes from his four-month yogic sleep, which closes the Chaturmas period and reopens the season for weddings and other ceremonies. This guide sets out the 2026 dates, explains why two days appear in calendars, and covers Tulsi Vivah and the Kartiki Ekadashi pilgrimage at Pandharpur.

The observance is a week away. All times below are calculated panchang values published by the sources listed at the end, not our own astronomical calculations, and nothing described here has taken place yet.

Devutthana Ekadashi 2026 at a Glance

A Hyderabad panchang we checked gives the same tithi window, from 7:15 AM on November 20 to 6:31 AM on November 21, with sunrise in Hyderabad at about 6:24 AM. Sunrise and parana windows still differ from city to city, so confirm with a local panchang or your temple.

Why Two Dates Appear: November 20 and November 21

The tithi begins just after sunrise on Friday, November 20, and ends just after sunrise on Saturday, November 21. That narrow overlap is why calendars show two days.

The main (Smarta) listing places the fast on Friday, November 20. Drik Panchang also lists an alternate, or Gauna, fast on Saturday, November 21, and notes that this matches the Vaishnava observance. One panchang publisher says ISKCON and many Vaishnava communities fast on the Saturday. Families that follow a particular sampradaya or temple should keep the date that tradition announces.

There is also a difference in how months are named. North Indian calendars count months to end on the full moon (purnimanta), while many South and West Indian calendars count them to end on the new moon (amanta). The Ekadashi itself is the same day; only the name of the surrounding month can differ.

What Devutthana Ekadashi Means

The name means the "rising of the god." In tradition, Lord Vishnu goes into yoga nidra on Devshayani Ekadashi in the month of Ashadha and wakes on this Ekadashi in Kartik. In 2026, Ashadhi (Devshayani) Ekadashi was listed for Saturday, July 25. The four months in between are known as Chaturmas.

Many communities pause weddings, house-warming ceremonies (griha pravesh) and certain other auspicious events during Chaturmas. After Devutthana Ekadashi, families traditionally begin fixing wedding dates again. Exact muhurat for a wedding is a separate calculation, so families normally consult their own priest.

Drik Panchang's vrat katha for this Ekadashi is framed as a conversation between Devarshi Narada and Lord Brahma about the merit of worshipping Vishnu with particular flowers. As with every katha, versions vary between regions and texts. For the Ekadashi that starts Chaturmas, see our Devshayani Ekadashi guide.

Tulsi Vivah on November 21

Tulsi Vivah is the ceremonial wedding of the tulsi plant, revered as the goddess Tulasi or Vrinda, to Lord Vishnu or Krishna, who is represented by a shaligram stone. Drik Panchang lists it for Saturday, November 21, 2026 in New Delhi, with Dwadashi running from about 6:31 AM on November 21 to about 4:56 AM on November 22.

Practice varies more widely here than for the Ekadashi itself. Some households perform the ceremony on the Ekadashi evening, many on the following Dwadashi, and others on any day up to Kartik Purnima. One Indian puja platform we read lists November 23 in its own calendar. If your family follows a specific day, keep it.

A Hyderabad panchang also lists Ksheerabdi Dwadashi, observed in parts of South India, on November 21.

Kartiki Ekadashi at Pandharpur

In Maharashtra, this Ekadashi is known as Kartiki Ekadashi and is the second great pilgrimage of the year to the Vitthal Rukmini temple in Pandharpur, after Ashadhi Ekadashi. The temple committee's listing describes it as the second most popular yatra after Ashadhi and links it to Vitthal waking from his cosmic sleep.

Warkari pilgrims traditionally walk to Pandharpur singing abhangas, bathe in the Chandrabhaga river and queue for darshan. By custom, a senior leader of the Maharashtra government performs an official mahapuja at the temple. We have not found an official 2026 announcement of the mahapuja date, the person performing it or darshan arrangements. Those details are released each year by the temple committee and the state, so pilgrims should check official notices before travelling.

Related Observances Around November 20

Panchang sources list several observances in the days around the Ekadashi:

• Kansa Vadh: Kartik Shukla Dashami, the tithi in force at sunrise on Friday, November 20.
• Bhishma Panchak: A five-day period listed from November 20 to Kartik Purnima.
• Tulsi Vivah and Ksheerabdi Dwadashi: Saturday, November 21.
• Kartik Purnima: Tuesday, November 24, which also closes the purnimanta month of Kartik.

Regional calendars may list these on slightly different days, so treat the list as a guide.

Vrat Practices as Commonly Described

Customs differ between families. The outline below reflects common practice.

The day before (November 19)

• Eat a light sattvic meal before sunset.
• Avoid grains if your family begins the fast from the previous evening.

On the Ekadashi

• Bathe early, clean the puja space and take a sankalpa, a personal resolve to keep the vrat.
• Offer tulsi leaves, flowers, a ghee lamp, incense and fruit to Vishnu.
• Chant the Vishnu Sahasranama or Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya.

Fasting levels and health

Devotees choose between a nirjala fast without water, a water-only fast or a phalahar fast of fruit, milk and non-grain foods. Grains, rice, pulses, onion and garlic are usually avoided. Elderly people, children, pregnant women and anyone with a medical condition should not fast strictly, and should consult a doctor if unsure.

Parana

For the main fast, Drik Panchang's New Delhi window opens at about 1:11 PM on November 21, after Hari Vasara ends at about 12:07 PM, and closes at about 3:18 PM. Those keeping the Vaishnava fast on November 21 break it on the morning of November 22.

Is It a Holiday?

Devutthana Ekadashi is a religious observance, not a national gazetted holiday. We have not verified any school, bank or office closures for 2026. Check your state government's official holiday list for local notifications.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Dev Uthani Ekadashi 2026 on November 20 or 21?

The main listing is Friday, November 20. Vaishnava communities, including many ISKCON temples, keep the fast on Saturday, November 21.

When is parana for the November 20 fast?

About 1:11 PM to 3:18 PM IST on November 21, for New Delhi. Other cities differ.

When is Tulsi Vivah in 2026?

Drik Panchang lists Saturday, November 21 for New Delhi, but family customs range from the Ekadashi evening to Kartik Purnima.

Does Chaturmas end on this day?

Yes, by tradition. Chaturmas begins on Devshayani Ekadashi and ends with Vishnu's awakening on Devutthana Ekadashi.

Conclusion

Devutthana Ekadashi 2026 is on Friday, November 20 for most households, with the Vaishnava fast on Saturday, November 21. Confirm the parana window for your city, follow your family's custom for Tulsi Vivah, and see our November 20 date overview for everything else on the calendar that day. For the previous Ekadashi, read our Papankusha Ekadashi guide.