Vaishnava tradition · Hyderabad, India · Reviewed 20 October 2026
Ekadashi November 2026: Fasting Dates & Parana Guide
The Vaishnava Ekadashi fasting dates in November 2026 are Thursday, 5 November (Rama Ekadashi), and Saturday, 21 November (Utthana or Devutthana Ekadashi). The November awakening fast has different Smarta and Vaishnava observances, so check which calendar your community follows.
Fasting and fast-breaking dates
| Ekadashi | Fast | Parana day |
|---|---|---|
| Rama Ekadashi | Thursday, 5 November 2026 | 6 November 2026 |
| Utthana Ekadashi | Saturday, 21 November 2026 | 22 November 2026 |
Parana means breaking the fast in the prescribed window on Dvadashi. The dates above are not permission to break the fast at any time that day. Verify the exact window for Hyderabad, or your own city, using a local Vaishnava calendar. Tithi end time and parana time are different pieces of information.
Why do some calendars say 20 November and others 21 November?
For Devutthana in 2026, calendars can show Friday, 20 November for the general Smarta observance and Saturday, 21 November for the Vaishnava observance. A calendar applies its tradition’s rules to the lunar tithi and sunrise; the two listings should not be combined into one universal fasting date.
KC Zenithians presents the Vaishnava schedule. For this schedule, observe the Utthana fast on 21 November and verify the local parana window for 22 November. If your family follows the Smarta date, use that tradition’s complete instructions, including its fast-breaking day, rather than mixing the two schedules.
Rama Ekadashi on 5 November comes earlier in the month. Its name is not a reference to changing the observance to Rama Navami: consult the linked Rama Ekadashi katha for the distinct story and devotional context. Utthana is also called Prabodhini or Dev Uthani in many calendars and is associated with the conclusion of Chaturmasya observances.
Prepare for the fast
Choose an observance suited to your circumstances and your teacher’s guidance. In the Vaishnava practice described on this site, grains, beans and lentils are avoided; meal preparation also needs attention to ingredients and cross-contamination. A fasting recipe title alone does not guarantee that every packaged ingredient is suitable.
Use our Ekadashi food guide and fasting recipes to plan food, and set aside time for chanting and scripture. If you are unsure about the degree of fasting, ask your spiritual guide rather than assuming that a waterless fast is required of everyone.
Is Dev Uthani Ekadashi on 20 or 21 November 2026?
The general Smarta listing is 20 November; the Vaishnava listing used here is 21 November. Confirm your tradition and city with the calendar sources below. For the Vaishnava fast on 21 November, parana is on 22 November at the locally prescribed time.
Calendar sources and scope
Dates follow the 2026 Vaishnava calendar published by ISKCON Jaipur. For a city-specific cross-check and the distinction between general and Vaishnava observance, consult Drik Panchang’s Hyderabad Ekadashi calendar. KC Zenithians is an independent community in the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition.
