Vaikuntha Ekadashi 2026: Date (20 December), Mukkoti Ekadashi, Uttara Dwara Darshan, Fasting and Parana in India
Vaikuntha Ekadashi, also called Mukkoti Ekadashi, falls on Sunday 20 December 2026 in India (calculated), the same day as Gita Jayanti and Mokshada Ekadashi. Here is what the day means, how Tirumala, Srirangam and Bhadrachalam observe the Vaikuntha Dwaram, how to fast and when to break the fast.
Vaikuntha Ekadashi, also called Mukkoti Ekadashi, falls on Sunday 20 December 2026 in India (calculated), the same day as Gita Jayanti and Mokshada Ekadashi. Here is what the day means, how Tirumala, Srirangam and Bhadrachalam observe the Vaikuntha Dwaram, how to fast and when to break the fast.
Quick answer: Vaikuntha Ekadashi 2026 falls on Sunday 20 December 2026 in India (calculated). It is also called Mukkoti Ekadashi, and in 2026 it is the same day as Mokshada Ekadashi and Gita Jayanti. Devotees fast, keep vigil and seek darshan through the Vaikuntha Dwaram, the northern gate of Vishnu temples. The fast is broken (parana) on Monday 21 December 2026.
The date is calculated by HinduTone's ephemeris calculator for New Delhi, which we checked against Drik Panchang to within one or two minutes. It matches our Vaikuntha Ekadashi guides for the USA, UK and Canada, which also give 20 December. Please confirm on Drik Panchang for your city.
Vaikuntha Ekadashi 2026 date and key times
| Item | Date (India) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dhanurmasam begins | Wed 16 Dec 2026 (calculated) | Dhanu Sankranti; makes this Ekadashi Vaikuntha Ekadashi |
| Dashami (eve of the fast) | Sat 19 Dec 2026 (calculated) | Many eat a single light meal |
| Vaikuntha (Mukkoti) Ekadashi | Sun 20 Dec 2026 (calculated) | Ekadashi at sunrise; ends around 8:15 PM IST |
| Gita Jayanti / Mokshada Ekadashi | Sun 20 Dec 2026 (calculated) | Same day |
| Parana (Dwadashi) | Mon 21 Dec 2026 (calculated) | Check the parana window on Drik Panchang |
The Ekadashi end time above is an India time. If you live abroad, do not convert it; check Drik Panchang for your own city.
What is Vaikuntha Ekadashi?
There are about 24 Ekadashis in a year, and each is sacred to Lord Vishnu. The Shukla Paksha Ekadashi that falls during Dhanurmasam, when the Sun is in Dhanu (Sagittarius), is called Vaikuntha Ekadashi. It is regarded as the most important Ekadashi of the year in South Indian Vaishnava tradition.
As commonly told, on this day the gates of Vaikuntha, Vishnu's heavenly abode, are opened. To mark this, Vishnu temples open a special northern entrance, called the Vaikuntha Dwaram, Uttara Dwaram or, in Tamil, Paramapada Vasal or Sorgavasal. Passing through it is believed to bring the devotee closer to moksha.
The Telugu name Mukkoti Ekadashi comes from "mukkoti", three crore. As commonly told, the three crore gods gather to worship Vishnu on this day. In North India, the same tithi is known as Mokshada Ekadashi, the Ekadashi that grants liberation.
Gita Jayanti on the same day
In 2026, Vaikuntha Ekadashi coincides with Gita Jayanti. As commonly told, Margashirsha Shukla Ekadashi is the day Krishna spoke the Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna at Kurukshetra. Many devotees read the whole Gita, or at least chapter 12 or 15, on this day. In the Gita (10.35), Krishna himself names Margashirsha as the best of months. See Gita Jayanti 2026 and Gita Jayanti: lessons from the Bhagavad Gita.
How major temples observe Vaikuntha Ekadashi
The descriptions below are general. Each temple announces its own darshan arrangements, tokens and timings closer to the day. Check the temple's official website for current timings.
Tirumala (Andhra Pradesh). At the Sri Venkateswara temple, the Vaikuntha Dwaram is opened for devotees around Vaikuntha Ekadashi, and very large crowds come for Vaikuntha Dwara darshan. Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) announces how long the gate stays open and how darshan is arranged. See Tirumala Venkateswara Temple and Vaikuntha Ekadashi 2026: Tirumala and Sorgavasal darshan.
Srirangam (Tamil Nadu). At the Sri Ranganathaswamy temple, Vaikunta Ekadasi falls during the long Adhyayana Utsavam, when the Divya Prabandham is recited before the deity. On Ekadasi morning, the Paramapada Vasal is opened and the processional deity of Namperumal passes through it, followed by devotees. It is one of the largest festivals in Tamil Nadu. See Margazhi 2026.
Bhadrachalam (Telangana). At the Sita Ramachandra Swamy temple on the Godavari, Mukkoti Ekadashi is celebrated with Uttara Dwara darshan of Lord Rama, as part of the temple's Adhyayanotsavam. Devotees from across the Telugu states gather for it. See Bhadrachalam temple guide.
Many other Vishnu, Venkateswara and Rama temples across India open a northern gate on this day. Local temple committees announce their own arrangements.
How to observe the fast
- Dashami (Sat 19 Dec): eat a light satvik meal, ideally before sunset, and avoid grains at night if that is your custom.
- Ekadashi (Sun 20 Dec): bathe early, make a sankalpa, and worship Vishnu with tulasi leaves, a lamp and the Vishnu Sahasranama. Avoid rice and grains. Choose nirjala, phalahar or a single fruit-and-milk meal, according to your health and custom.
- Jagaran: many devotees stay awake at night singing bhajans or reading the Gita. Do this only if it is safe for you.
- Parana (Mon 21 Dec): break the fast after sunrise during Dwadashi, within the window shown on Drik Panchang. Many families first offer the food to Vishnu, and some begin with tulasi water.
Vaikuntha Ekadashi falls in Dhanurmasam, so devotees also sing Andal's Tiruppavai at dawn. See Dhanurmasam 2026 and Tiruppavai 30 pasurams.
A note on health
Fasting is a spiritual discipline, not a medical treatment. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have diabetes, blood-pressure problems or another health condition, or take regular medicines, speak to your doctor before fasting. Children and elderly people should eat normally. Drink water unless your doctor approves a nirjala fast, and stop the fast if you feel unwell. A sincere prayer with a simple meal is fully in keeping with tradition.
Tips for visiting a temple on Vaikuntha Ekadashi
- Expect very large crowds at famous temples. Plan travel early and carry water and any medicines you need.
- Check the temple's official website for darshan arrangements, tokens and timings. Do not rely on unofficial messages.
- Elderly devotees and families with small children may prefer a quieter neighbourhood temple, where the northern gate is often also opened.
- If you cannot visit a temple, a home puja with a lamp, tulasi and the Vishnu Sahasranama is a complete observance.
For families outside India
Ekadashi begins and ends at a fixed moment, which falls at different local times around the world. Our guides for the USA, Canada and UK and Ireland also give Sunday 20 December 2026. Even so, check Drik Panchang for your own city before you fast, and take the parana window from there. Many temples abroad open a symbolic Vaikuntha Dwaram; check your temple's website for its programme.
Frequently asked questions
When is Vaikuntha Ekadashi 2026 in India?
Vaikuntha Ekadashi falls on Sunday 20 December 2026 in India (calculated). Ekadashi prevails at sunrise that day and ends around 8:15 PM IST. Our USA, UK and Canada guides also give 20 December, but please check Drik Panchang for your own city.
When is the Vaikuntha Ekadashi parana in 2026?
Parana, the breaking of the fast, is on Monday 21 December 2026, during Dwadashi. The exact parana window depends on sunrise at your location, so take it from Drik Panchang for your city.
Why is it called Mukkoti Ekadashi?
Mukkoti means three crore. As commonly told, the three crore gods come to Vaikuntha to have darshan of Lord Vishnu on this day. For this reason, Telugu devotees call it Mukkoti Ekadashi.
Is Vaikuntha Ekadashi the same as Gita Jayanti in 2026?
Yes. In 2026, Margashirsha Shukla Ekadashi is Mokshada Ekadashi, Gita Jayanti and Vaikuntha Ekadashi on the same day, Sunday 20 December. It is Vaikuntha Ekadashi because it falls inside Dhanurmasam, which begins on 16 December 2026 (calculated).
What are the darshan timings at Tirumala on Vaikuntha Ekadashi?
We do not list darshan timings or ticket details, because temples announce them closer to the day and they change from year to year. Check the official website of TTD, or of Srirangam or Bhadrachalam temple, for current timings and arrangements.
Can I keep the fast if I have a health condition?
Please consult your doctor first. A light fast with fruit and milk, or a simple satvik meal with prayer, is a valid observance. Elders, children, pregnant women and people on medication are not expected to keep a strict fast.
Editor's note
Editor's note (6 October 2026): This guide has been restored at its original hindutone.com address after the earlier version was lost. The date and tithi end time are calculated by HinduTone's ephemeris calculator for New Delhi and checked against Drik Panchang. Temple traditions are described in general terms; we do not list darshan timings, tokens or prices, because temples announce these each year. Legends are given as commonly told. This page is not medical advice.
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