Dev Uthani Ekadashi: the festival of the Lord's waking
Dev Uthani (Prabodhini) Ekadashi is Kartika Shukla Ekadashi. Tradition holds that Vishnu, asleep since Ashadha's Devshayani Ekadashi, wakes on this day and Chaturmasa ends. The fast day follows the Smarta and Vaishnava Ekadashi rules; per Dharmasindhu, the regional custom is to hold the waking festival (prabodhotsava) on Dvadashi, the parana day, in the first part of the night.
The end of Chaturmasa: tradition holds that Vishnu wakes from his yoga-sleep; the wedding season follows.
What Dev Uthani Ekadashi is
The roughly four months from Ashadha Shukla Ekadashi (Devshayani) to Kartika Shukla Ekadashi are called Chaturmasa. Tradition holds that Vishnu rests in yoga-sleep on Shesha in the ocean of milk through this time and wakes on Kartika Shukla Ekadashi. So the day is called Dev Uthani, Devotthana or Prabodhini Ekadashi.
In north India it is a home-and-courtyard festival; in Maharashtra, Kartiki Ekadashi brings the pilgrimage to Pandharpur; and in many places Tulsi Vivah follows around it. Tradition holds that the season of weddings opens after it.
How the day is decided
The fast day: as for every Ekadashi. Shastra (Dharmasindhu): Smartas set aside an Ekadashi touched by Dashami at sunrise, and Vaishnavas set aside one touched by Dashami even at arunodaya (about an hour and a half before sunrise). So in some years the Smarta and Vaishnava Ekadashi fall on different days; our calendar shows both, and one when they match.
The waking festival: Shastra (Dharmasindhu): the prabodhotsava is given in some places on Kartika Shukla Ekadashi and in the Ramarchana-chandrika and others on Dvadashi. The text says the waking mantra names Dvadashi, so Dvadashi fits, and the regional custom is to hold it on the parana day, in the first part of the night.
Parana: Shastra (Dharmasindhu): break the fast on Kartika Shukla Dvadashi, avoiding the conjunction with Revati nakshatra. Many homes do the waking puja on the Ekadashi evening itself; that too is a common custom.
The story: tradition / Purana story
In tradition Vishnu wakes after four months of rest, and with his waking the time for auspicious undertakings opens again on earth. Dharmasindhu gives the sense of the waking prayer: O Govinda, rise, leave your sleep; when you sleep the world sleeps, and when you rise it rises. It also speaks of offering autumn flowers: the clouds have gone, the sky and the directions are clear.
Chaturmasa vows (giving up some food, and so on) are completed around now. Dharmasindhu notes that some hold the Chaturmasa vow ends on this Dvadashi, and others on the Chaturdashi or Purnima.
How families celebrate
In many homes in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh, the Lord's footprints and a square pattern are drawn in the courtyard with red ochre and rice flour. Sugarcane, water chestnut, ber, sweet potato and the new harvest are placed on it, covered with a basket, and in the evening a plate or bell is struck as people sing ‘Utho Dev, baitho Dev’ (rise, Lord; be seated, Lord).
Shastra (Dharmasindhu): after the puja, it speaks of waking the Lord to the sound of bells and other instruments.
In Maharashtra, on Kartiki Ekadashi the warkaris reach Pandharpur for Vitthala's darshan. In Gujarat and Maharashtra, Tulsi Vivah is celebrated after it. Customs differ by region; whichever form you follow, the feeling is the same.
A simple puja
- A morning bath, remembrance of Vishnu or Krishna, and a fast or fruit meal as your health allows (see below).
- In the evening, a pattern at the shrine or courtyard, a lamp, and a lamp by the tulsi too.
- Offer sugarcane, seasonal fruit, flowers and tulsi leaves.
- The custom of waking the Lord with conch, bell or plate, saying ‘Utho Dev’, then aarti.
- Next day, on Dvadashi, break the fast: a simple meal, and if you wish, food for someone in need.
No paid puja is needed.
Health and safety
Fasting and health: keep the fast as your health allows. People who are unwell, pregnant, diabetic or on regular medicine can take a lighter form (fruit, milk, or one simple meal), or ask a doctor first. Don't change medicine timings. For health, the doctor comes first; no vrat replaces that.
A waterless Ekadashi is not for everyone; a form with water, fruit or milk is also in the tradition, and puja, a lamp and remembrance carry the full spirit of the vrat. If you feel dizzy, anxious or weak, eat or drink something and talk to a doctor. Don't break the fast with a very heavy meal all at once.
Keep lamps away from curtains, clothes and dry leaves, keep an adult near children, and keep a bucket of water nearby.
In ePandit
In ePandit: our calendar shows the festival day with your city's sunrise and sunset. The day is decided once, for Ujjain; your city's times are shown separately. We don't compute muhurta yet, and we never call a festival good or bad for anyone.
Keep the fast in a way your health allows. People with diabetes, pregnancy, older people and anyone on regular medicine can choose a lighter form (fruit, milk, or one meal); for health, the doctor comes first.
Frequently asked questions
Why two dates in some years?
Smartas and Vaishnavas follow different Ekadashi rules: Vaishnavas also set aside a Dashami touch at arunodaya. So sometimes both fall on one day, sometimes not.
When is Tulsi Vivah?
Dharmasindhu notes the custom of doing it on the parana day, with the waking festival, in the first part of the night. Many places also do it on the Ekadashi evening or up to Purnima.
What if I can't fast?
Puja, a lamp and remembrance are also part of the tradition. Choose as your health allows; for health, the doctor comes first.
Do weddings only begin after it?
Tradition starts the wedding season after Dev Uthani. We don't compute muhurta for any particular date yet.
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Sources: Dharmasindhu, Prabodhotsava (Kārtika-śukla ekādaśī / dvādaśī), Ekadashi in some places, Dvadashi in the Ramarchana-chandrika · Dharmasindhu, the regional custom for the waking festival, On the parana day, first part of the night · Dharmasindhu, Ekādaśī-vrata-dina-nirṇaya (Smārta), Smartas set aside the touched Ekadashi · Dharmasindhu, Ekādaśī: Vaiṣṇava aruṇodaya-vedha, A Dashami touch at arunodaya · Dharmasindhu, the Kartika Dvadashi parana, Dvadashi free of Revati's conjunction · Dharmasindhu, waking the Lord, With bells and other instruments · Dharmasindhu, the waking prayer (Hindi), When you sleep the world sleeps; when you rise it rises · Dharmasindhu, the end of the Chaturmasa vow, In some views, on this Dvadashi · Tradition, Yoga-sleep in the ocean of milk; the ‘Utho Dev’ song, sugarcane and the basket; the Kartiki Wari to Pandharpur