Nirjala Ekadashi

Religious observance on the eleventh
day (ekadashi) in the bright, waxing half
of the lunar month of Jyeshth (May–
June). As for all the eleventh-day observances, this is dedicated to the worship
of the god Vishnu. Most Hindu festivals
have certain prescribed rites, which
usually involve fasting (upavasa) and
worship, and often promise specific
benefits for faithful performance. The
regulations for this ekadashi are more
strict than all the others. Not only is all
food forbidden, but the person performing this rite must not drink water,
hence the name nirjala meaning
“waterless.” The fast must last from
dawn till dusk. This is no easy task,
since this ekadashi occurs during the
hottest part of the year. The rewards are
great: Those who fulfill the vow for this
single ekadashi receive the religious
merit for all twenty-four ekadashis during the year, whether or not they have
done the rites for the others. Carrying
out the vow for this ekadashi is also
believed to bring one a long life and liberation of the soul after death.