Devshayani Ekadashi ( Aashadhi Ekadashi )

The eleventh day in the full moon quarter of Ashadh is observed as Devshayani Ekadashi. According to mythology, on this day, Lord Vishnu goes to sleep or is in deep meditation and wakes up after four months on Prabodhini Ekadashi. Devshyani Ekadashi comes close on the heels of Jagannath Rath Yatra mostly every year.

The puja assumes significance as Chaturmas or a holy period of four months in the Hindu calendar, starts on this day. The four months of Chaturmas, including Shravan, Bhadra, Ashwin and Kartik (corresponding to primarily July, August, September and October), marks all the key Hindu festivals like the Janmashthami, Ganesh Chaturthi, Navratri, Durga Puja and Diwali.

On Devshayani Ekadashi many devotees fast and seek the blessings of Lord Vishnu.