Quick answer: Dev Uthani (Devutthana or Prabodhini) Ekadashi 2026 is observed on Friday, 20 November 2026 as per most panchangs, with the fast broken (parana) the next morning. On this day Lord Vishnu is believed to wake from his four-month yoga nidra, which ends Chaturmas and opens the Hindu wedding season. Tulsi Vivah, the ceremonial marriage of Tulsi Mata with Lord Vishnu in his Shaligram form, is performed on the Ekadashi evening or on Dwadashi (21 November), depending on family tradition.
For four months, from Devshayani Ekadashi in Ashadh, auspicious ceremonies such as weddings and griha pravesh are traditionally paused. Dev Uthani Ekadashi in Kartik brings that period to an end. Homes are lit with diyas again, Tulsi Mata is married to Shaligram, and the season of shubh karya begins.
Dev Uthani Ekadashi and Tulsi Vivah 2026 at a glance
| Observance | Date |
|---|---|
| Dev Uthani Ekadashi vrat | Friday, 20 November 2026 |
| Parana (breaking the fast) | Saturday, 21 November 2026, morning |
| Tulsi Vivah | 20 November evening or 21 November (Dwadashi), as per family tradition |
Some calendars, particularly Smarta and Vaishnava traditions, can differ by a day. Confirm the vrat date and parana time for your city with your local panchang.
Why is it called Dev Uthani?
"Dev Uthani" means "the awakening of the Lord". According to the Puranas, Lord Vishnu rests in yoga nidra on Sheshnag from Devshayani Ekadashi and awakens on Kartik Shukla Ekadashi. Devotees welcome him back with songs, a symbolic awakening, and a lamp-lit puja.
How to observe Dev Uthani Ekadashi at home
- Morning: bathe early, clean the puja room, and take a sankalp for the vrat in front of Lord Vishnu or a Shaligram.
- Fast: many devotees keep a nirjala or phalahari (fruit and milk) fast. Grains, especially rice, are traditionally avoided on Ekadashi.
- Puja: offer tulsi leaves (picked the day before, as tulsi is traditionally not plucked on Ekadashi), yellow flowers, sandalwood, fruits, sugarcane and seasonal produce such as water chestnut (singhara).
- Chant: chant Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya on a Tulsi Mala, or recite the Vishnu Sahasranama.
- Evening: draw the Lord's footprints, light diyas around the home and the tulsi plant, and symbolically "wake" Lord Vishnu with conch, bells and kirtan.
- Next morning: break the fast during the parana time after offering food to the Lord.
How to perform Tulsi Vivah at home
Tulsi Vivah is a beautiful family ritual, performed much like a small wedding.
What you'll need
- A healthy tulsi plant in a clean pot, decorated as a bride
- A Shaligram or an image of Lord Vishnu (Krishna)
- A red chunri, bangles, bindi, sindoor and a small mangalsutra for Tulsi Mata
- A yellow cloth for Shaligram
- Sugarcane stalks to make a mandap, a few diyas, flowers and garlands
- Haldi, kumkum, akshat, sweets, fruits and panchamrit
The ritual
- Build a small mandap around the tulsi pot with sugarcane stalks and decorate it with flowers.
- Dress Tulsi Mata in the red chunri and adorn her with shringar items.
- Place the Shaligram on a small seat to the right of the tulsi plant.
- Offer haldi and kumkum to both, and perform puja as for a wedding.
- Tie the chunri and the Shaligram's cloth together, or symbolically perform the pheras by carrying the Shaligram around the tulsi plant seven times.
- Perform aarti, offer bhog and distribute prasad.
To learn more about why the tulsi plant is so revered, read Tulsi Mata: Why the Tulsi Plant Is Worshipped in Hindu Homes.
Sacred items for Dev Uthani Ekadashi
- Tulsi Mala (108+1) for chanting Vishnu and Krishna mantras
- Tulsi Kanthi Mala, traditionally worn around the neck by Vaishnav devotees
- Vaijanti Mala, dear to Lord Krishna. Read our Vaijanti Mala guide.
- Shaligram Mala for Vishnu devotees
- Sudarshan Chakra Yantra, the protective weapon of Lord Vishnu, for the puja room
Not sure which mala suits your practice? Read Choosing a Japa Mala.
Why the wedding season starts after Tulsi Vivah
Because Lord Vishnu is considered the preserver and the witness of every Hindu marriage, weddings are traditionally avoided while he rests during Chaturmas. Tulsi Vivah, the divine wedding, marks the moment auspicious ceremonies can begin again. For families preparing for a wedding, our Love & Marriage collection includes the Gauri Shankar Rudraksha and the Vivah Sukh Kavach.
Frequently asked questions
Can tulsi leaves be plucked on Ekadashi?
Traditionally no. Pluck the leaves you need for puja on the day before Ekadashi.
Can I perform Tulsi Vivah without a Shaligram?
Yes. Many families use an idol or picture of Lord Vishnu or Krishna instead.
Is rice allowed on Ekadashi?
Rice and grains are traditionally avoided on Ekadashi. Fruits, milk, nuts and singhara or kuttu are commonly eaten during a phalahari fast.
Who should not fast?
Children, elderly people, pregnant women and anyone with a medical condition should follow a light version of the fast or skip it, and consult a doctor where needed. Devotion matters more than the strictness of the fast.
Dates are from published panchang calculations and may differ by a day between traditions and cities. Practices vary by region and family. Follow your family's customs where they differ from this guide.
Jai Shri Hari. 🙏