Shattila Ekadashi

Religious observance falling on the
eleventh day (ekadashi) of the dark
(waning) half of the lunar month of
Magh (January–February). As with 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. On this day
one should bathe an image of Vishnu
with the five auspicious things (milk,
curds, honey, ghee, and sugar water),
placing some sesame seed (tila) into
each. One should also eat food containing sesame seed. During the night
one should sleep before the image of
the deity. This ekadashi’s name comes
from the six (sat) ways in which
the sesame seed has been used.
Faithfully observing this festival is said
to cause one to be reborn in Vishnu’s
realm, Vaikuntha.