When Is Bawan Ekadashi 2026? Know the Date, Vrat Vidhi and Puja Rules
Every Ekadashi is dear to Lord Vishnu, but a few carry a story of their own. Bawan Ekadashi is one of them. It falls in the middle of Chaturmas, and it is linked to the Vamana avatar, the form in which Lord Vishnu came to King Bali as a young Brahmin boy.
If you plan to keep the fast this year, here is what you need: the correct date, the tithi and parana timings, the puja vidhi you can follow at home, and the rules of the vrat.
Bawan Ekadashi 2026 Date and Time
Bawan Ekadashi 2026 will be observed on Tuesday, 22 September 2026. The Ekadashi tithi starts on the evening of 21 September, but the fast is kept on 22 September because that is the day the tithi is present at sunrise.
Bawan Ekadashi 2026 at a glance
| Date and time (New Delhi) | |
|---|---|
| Vrat date | Tuesday, 22 September 2026 |
| Ekadashi tithi begins | 8:00 PM, 21 September |
| Ekadashi tithi ends | 9:43 PM, 22 September |
| Parana (breaking the fast) | 23 September, 6:10 AM to 8:35 AM |
| Dwadashi tithi ends | 10:50 PM, 23 September |
| Hindu month and paksha | Bhadrapada, Shukla Paksha |
| Deity worshipped | Lord Vishnu as Vamana |
Timings are for New Delhi. Parana time shifts by a few minutes with local sunrise.
Check today's panchang for your location before you break the fast. If you are new to tithi and sunrise rules, our panchang reading guide explains them in plain words.
What Is Bawan Ekadashi?
Bawan Ekadashi is the Ekadashi of the bright fortnight (Shukla Paksha) of Bhadrapada month. "Bawan" is the everyday form of "Vaman" used in many parts of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, so the name simply means the Ekadashi of Lord Vamana.
The same day is known by several other names across India:
| Name | What the name means | Where you will hear it |
|---|---|---|
| Bawan / Vaman Ekadashi | Ekadashi of Lord Vamana, the fifth avatar of Vishnu | Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh |
| Parivartini Ekadashi | The day Lord Vishnu changes his side in yogic sleep | Most North Indian panchangs |
| Parsva Ekadashi | From "parsva", meaning side | ISKCON and Vaishnava calendars |
| Padma Ekadashi | Named after the lotus, dear to Vishnu and Lakshmi | Some Vaishnava traditions |
| Jaljhulni Ekadashi / Dol Gyaras | The Lord is taken in a palanquin (dol) for a bath | Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, parts of Gujarat |
One vrat, many names. The fast and the worship of Lord Vishnu remain the same everywhere. For a wider view of all 24 Ekadashis of the year, see our Ekadashi guide.
Why Is Bawan Ekadashi Important?
Bawan Ekadashi marks the midpoint of Chaturmas, the four months when Lord Vishnu rests in yoga nidra. Tradition says that on this day he turns from his left side to his right, which is why the day is called Parivartini, the Ekadashi of change.
Chaturmas begins with Devshayani Ekadashi in Ashadha and ends with Prabodhini Ekadashi in Kartik, shortly before Tulsi Vivah. Bawan Ekadashi sits right between the two. Devotees see it as a good day to renew the vows they took at the start of Chaturmas.
The day also honours Lord Vamana, the fifth among the ten avatars of Vishnu. Vamana Jayanti is observed on the Dwadashi that follows, so the two days are often kept together as one continuous period of worship.
According to the Puranas, Lord Krishna told Yudhishthira that keeping this vrat with faith brings merit equal to great yajnas and helps a devotee let go of past wrongs. Such statements are best read as encouragement to fast with sincerity, not as a promise of results.
The Vrat Katha: Vamana and King Bali
The vrat katha of Bawan Ekadashi is the story of King Bali. Bali was an asura king, the grandson of Prahlada, known for his generosity. His power grew so much that he took over the three worlds, and the devas turned to Lord Vishnu for help.
Vishnu was born as Vamana, the son of Aditi and sage Kashyapa. He went to Bali's yajna as a small Brahmin boy and asked for just three paces of land. Bali's guru Shukracharya warned him, but Bali would not go back on his word.
| The three steps | What happened |
|---|---|
| First step | Vamana grew into the huge Trivikrama form and covered the whole earth. |
| Second step | He covered the heavens. Nothing remained that Bali could call his own. |
| Third step | With no place left, Bali bowed and offered his own head. The Lord placed his foot on it and blessed him. |
Pleased with his surrender, the Lord sent Bali to rule Sutala and promised to stay by his side. In Kerala, Onam celebrates the yearly return of this same king, remembered as Mahabali. You can read the full account in our story of Vamana and Bali.
The lesson is simple. Giving matters, but giving without ego matters more.
Bawan Ekadashi Puja Vidhi: Step-by-Step
The Bawan Ekadashi puja vidhi is simple and can be done at home with basic samagri. The main parts are a morning sankalp, worship of Lord Vishnu or Vamana with tulsi, reading the vrat katha, and breaking the fast on Dwadashi within the parana time.
Your three-day vrat planner
| Day | Date in 2026 | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Dashami | Monday, 21 September | One light sattvik meal before sunset. Avoid rice. Pluck tulsi leaves for the next day. Sleep early. |
| Ekadashi | Tuesday, 22 September | Early bath, sankalp, Vishnu puja, vrat katha, mantra jap, evening diya near tulsi, bhajan. |
| Dwadashi | Wednesday, 23 September | Short morning puja, daan or food to someone in need, then parana between 6:10 AM and 8:35 AM (New Delhi). |
Puja samagri you will need
- Image or idol of Lord Vishnu or Vamana
- Yellow cloth, yellow flowers and chandan
- Tulsi leaves (pluck them a day earlier, as many families do not pluck tulsi on Ekadashi)
- Gangajal, panchamrit, dhoop, ghee diya
- Fruits, dry fruits and a milk-based sweet for bhog
The steps
- On Dashami evening (21 September), eat one light sattvik meal before sunset and avoid rice.
- On Ekadashi, wake up early, preferably in Brahma muhurat, and take a bath. Wear clean clothes, yellow if possible.
- Clean your home mandir and place the image of Lord Vishnu on a yellow cloth.
- Take water in your right palm and make the sankalp, stating that you will keep the Bawan Ekadashi vrat as per your capacity.
- Bathe the idol with Gangajal and panchamrit, then apply chandan and offer flowers and tulsi leaves.
- Light the diya and dhoop. Offer fruits and sweets as bhog. Do not offer grains.
- Chant "Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya" or "Om Namo Narayanaya" 108 times. Reciting the Vishnu Sahasranama is considered especially good on Ekadashi.
- Read or listen to the Bawan Ekadashi vrat katha.
- Close the puja with the aarti "Om Jai Jagdish Hare" and share the prasad.
- In the evening, light a diya near the tulsi plant. Those who can may stay up for some time with bhajan and naam jap.
- On Dwadashi morning, do a short puja, give food or daan to someone in need, and then break the fast within the parana time.
In many regions, curd and rice are donated on this day, since the devotee gives up rice but can still share it. If you are new to home worship, our guide on how to do daily puja at home covers the basics, and you will find more chants in the Vishnu mantras guide.
Bawan Ekadashi Vrat Rules: What to Eat and What to Avoid
The main rule of the Bawan Ekadashi vrat is to avoid all grains and pulses from sunrise on Ekadashi until parana on Dwadashi. How strict you go beyond that depends on your health and family tradition.
Choose the fast that suits you
| Type of fast | What it means | Best suited for |
|---|---|---|
| Nirjala | No food and no water till parana | Healthy adults already used to fasting |
| Phalahar | Fruits, milk and water through the day | Most devotees, including first-timers |
| Ek bhukt | One vrat-friendly meal, usually after the evening puja | Working people, the elderly, those with mild health concerns |
Your vrat thali
| You can eat | Please avoid |
|---|---|
| Fruits, dry fruits, milk, curd, paneer | Rice, wheat and all other grains |
| Sabudana, kuttu, singhara, rajgira | Dals, beans and pulses |
| Potato, sweet potato, arbi, peanuts | Onion and garlic |
| Sendha namak, black pepper, ghee | Regular salt, non-vegetarian food, alcohol and tobacco |
A few more things devotees traditionally follow:
- Keep the mind calm. Avoid anger, harsh words and gossip.
- Do not sleep during the day if you can manage it.
- Do not pluck tulsi leaves on Ekadashi.
- Practise brahmacharya on Dashami, Ekadashi and Dwadashi.
The elderly, pregnant women, children and anyone on medication need not keep a strict fast. Doing the puja, chanting, and avoiding rice for the day is accepted in most traditions. For more detail, read our Ekadashi fasting guide and the types and rules of fasting in Hinduism.
Parana: When and How to Break the Fast
Parana for Bawan Ekadashi 2026 is on Wednesday, 23 September, after sunrise. For New Delhi the window is 6:10 AM to 8:35 AM. The fast should be broken within Dwadashi tithi and after Hari Vasara, the first quarter of Dwadashi, has passed.
Break the fast with something light. Tulsi water, a fruit, or a spoon of the prasad works well, followed by a simple sattvik meal that includes a grain. Before eating, offer food to a Brahmin, a cow, or anyone who needs a meal. If you miss the morning window for some reason, break the fast after midday rather than during the prohibited period.
How the Day Is Celebrated Across India
Bawan Ekadashi is observed in homes and Vishnu temples across the country, and some regions add their own customs.
In Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, the day is Jaljhulni Ekadashi or Dol Gyaras. Idols of Lord Krishna are taken out in decorated palanquins to a river or pond for a ceremonial bath, with bhajans all along the route.
Vaishnava temples hold special abhishek, Sahasranama path and evening aarti. If you wish to have darshan on this day, these temples are closely linked to Lord Vishnu and the Ekadashi tradition:
| Temple | State | Why visit on Ekadashi |
|---|---|---|
| Thrikkakara Vamana Temple | Kerala | One of the few temples dedicated to Lord Vamana |
| Pandharpur Vithoba Temple | Maharashtra | Ekadashi is the heart of the Warkari tradition |
| Badrinath Temple | Uttarakhand | Char Dham seat of Lord Vishnu in the Himalayas |
| Dwarkadhish Temple | Gujarat | Krishna as king of Dwarka, with special Ekadashi shringar |
| Tirupati Balaji | Andhra Pradesh | Among the most visited Vishnu temples in the world |
| Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple | Tamil Nadu | Vishnu in his reclining form, fitting for the Ekadashi of his yogic sleep |
Cannot travel? You can still join in through live darshan from home.
A Closing Thought
Bawan Ekadashi asks for very little: a day of simple food, a quiet puja, and a few minutes with the story of a king who gave everything he had without pride. Keep the vrat in the way your health and your family tradition allow, break it at the right time on Dwadashi, and share a meal with someone before you eat your own.
For the day's tithi, nakshatra and shubh muhurat, keep DevMarg's panchang handy. Jai Shri Hari.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Bawan Ekadashi in 2026?
Bawan Ekadashi 2026 is on Tuesday, 22 September 2026. The Ekadashi tithi runs from 8:00 PM on 21 September to 9:43 PM on 22 September, and parana is on the morning of 23 September.
Are Bawan Ekadashi and Parivartini Ekadashi the same?
Yes. Bawan Ekadashi, Vaman Ekadashi, Parivartini Ekadashi, Parsva Ekadashi, Padma Ekadashi and Jaljhulni Ekadashi are regional names for the Ekadashi of Bhadrapada Shukla Paksha.
Which god is worshipped on Bawan Ekadashi?
Lord Vishnu is worshipped in his Vamana avatar. Many devotees also worship Goddess Lakshmi along with him, and in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh the day centres on Lord Krishna.
Can we eat rice on Bawan Ekadashi?
No. Rice and all other grains are avoided on every Ekadashi, including this one. Even those who are not fasting usually skip rice for the day.
Can I drink water during the Bawan Ekadashi vrat?
Yes, unless you have chosen a nirjala fast. Most devotees keep a phalahar fast with water, milk and fruits. Choose what your health allows.
What should I donate on Bawan Ekadashi?
Food, curd, rice, fruits, clothes and items of daily need are commonly given. Daan is usually done on Dwadashi morning before parana.
Which Ekadashi comes after Bawan Ekadashi?
Indira Ekadashi follows in Pitru Paksha, the Krishna Paksha of Ashwin. You can track all upcoming vrat dates on the DevMarg Hindu calendar, and read about other major ones such as Nirjala Ekadashi and Vaikuntha Ekadashi.
