Meaning of Ekadasi:
Every month of the Hindu calendar has two auspicious days of Ekadasi. It falls on the eleventh day of the fortnight of the lunar cycle. The first Ekadasi occurs when the moon is closest to the earth and the second Ekadasi occurs when the moon is farthest from the earth. The Ekadasi days are also indicators of the high and low tides of the sea. There are 24 Ekadasis in a year and each Ekadasi has a unique name. Ekadasi is observed as a day of fasting and devotion.

Benefits of Ekadasi fasting:
• It brings the blessings of Lord Vishnu.
• It liberates one from the cycle of birth and death.
• It gives one freedom from the sins of the past.
• It fulfills the wishes of health, wealth and happiness.
• It enhances the physiological functions of the body.
• It helps in flushing out the toxins from the body.
• It helps to strengthen one’s self-control.
• It improves one’s emotional stability.

Methods of Ekadasi Fasting:
• Complete fasting involves total abstinence from food and water for 24 hours.
• Partial fasting involves consumption of fruits and milk and the avoidance of rice and grains.
• People with health problems can opt for partial fasting after consulting with their doctors.
• Some people take only a single meal on the Dasami day, the day before Ekadasi.